African Immigrants

Open Ended

Explain what you understand about this painting.

African Immigrants

About three percent of African immigrants live in Florida in the United States today. This may seem like a small percentage when, according to the state census, 16.9 percent of Florida’s population is African American. The reason Florida has a higher African American population than other states is that the first Africans to come to Florida did not come voluntarily. These first people were not immigrants. African men, women, and children were captured in Africa during the transatlantic slave trade and brought to the Americas against their will to be sold into slavery. These people never made it back to their homes in Africa. They lived, worked, and eventually died in the Americas. They married and had families. The descendants of these people account for the higher population of African Americans in Florida and other southern states today.

Multiple Choice

Which percent of African immigrants live in Florida?

• 3%

• 8.5%

• 16.9%

• 20%

Multiple Choice

Which percent of African Americans live in Florida?

• 3%

• 12.6%

• 16.9%

• 24%

Open Ended

How did the first African slaves arrive in the Americas?

Today, slavery is abolished in the United States. Africans now immigrate voluntarily to America to pursue new opportunities. Florida has a diverse and rich mix of cultures, from the first Africans who preserved their culture while enslaved to those who immigrate to the U.S. today, bringing their cultures with them.

Multiple Choice

Today, slavery is _____________ in the United States.

• better

• abolished

• new opportunities

• a job

Multiple Choice

Who was an enslaved person?

• a men

• a women

• a child

• all of them

Pieces of African culture can be seen all over Florida today. The picturesque Victorian neighborhood of Lincolnville in St. Augustine is one example. Lincolnville was founded in 1866 by formerly enslaved Africans. Many houses there reflect the Victorian architecture when they were built.

Multiple Choice

Which Victorian neighborhood was founded by the enslaved?

• Lincolnville

• Tallahassee

• Bentonville

• Jacksonville

Multiple Choice

When was founding Lincolnville?

• 2000

• 1980

• 1822

• 1866

Fill in the Blanks

Art and history combine to tell a story in Perry Harvey Sr. Park in Tampa. Here, statues, tile art, and murals paint a vivid and informative scene of African history in Florida. Tampa is also home to the 10-day Tampa Black Heritage Festival every January. For 10 days, people celebrate African American art, food, music, and culture. Music, in particular, has deep roots in African culture. Enslaved African people sang songs they remembered from their homelands. Today, music continues to be an important part of African culture and heritage for descendants and immigrants alike. Each year, Tampa hosts the Tampa Bay Gospel Awards, where people gather to support and recognize Black musicians, singers, dancers, and more.

Multiple Select

Where did we see the influence of African Americans in Tampa?

• Tampa Black Heritage Festival

• Tampa Bay Gospel Awards

• Art and history

• Little Africa in Tampa

In Jacksonville’s LaVilla neighborhood, you can find any number of concerts and plays at the Ritz Theatre and Museum. LaVilla was sometimes called the “Harlem of the South.” In the museum, you can find the story of the African American national hymn, “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” written by James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson. Orlando is home to the African American Museum of the Arts, where African American artwork and African artifacts can be viewed and even purchased. There are countless other places in Florida today to see and experience African culture and history, both traditional and modern.

Categorize

Options (3)

LaVilla

African American Museum of the Arts

Black Heritage Festival every January

Organize these options into the right categories

Orlando

Tampa

Jacksonville

Hotspot

Where is Africa?

Match

Match the following food with their country.

Cuba

Dominican Republic

Asia

France

Italy

• Cuba

• Dominican Republic

• Asia

• France

• Italy

Match

Match the following words with the correct meaning.

• a person who comes to live permanently in a foreign country

• groups of businesses that make or sell similar products or perform similar services

• to move one place to another

• a town with harbor for shipping goods in and out

• beliefs, customs, traditions, and celebrations of a group of people, including art, clothing, food, language, architecture, and religion

immigrant

industries

migrate

port

culture

• immigrant

• industries

• migrate

• port

• culture