Home carrying legacy of Sarasota's first Black community to be relocated, transformed for cultural center
SARASOTA, Fla. - A home in Sarasota's Rosemary District will soon carry the legacy of the city’s first Black community. Plans are in the works to transform it into an African American cultural arts center and history museum, but first the home has to be relocated.
"This house was the homestead of Mr. Leonard Reid who was a pioneer in the Sarasota Black community, and Sarasota in general," explained Walter Gilbert, the senior director of diversity and inclusion at Selby Gardens.
Leonard Reid helped establish and settle the area, once called Overtown. His daughters would grow up, working to educate the children of the community.
Mr. Leonard Reid, pioneer of Sarasota's Black community
As downtown Sarasota grew, developments pushed into Overtown, which pushed residents move north to Newtown.
"They need to know the history behind it. We have had to fight for everything that we have gotten," said Odessa C. Butler, a Newtown resident.
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The home is the remaining piece of history from Overtown. Its owners deeded it to the city, which will move the home onto city-owned land in Newtown.
Homestead of Mr. Leonard Reid, pioneer in Sarasota's first Black town, to be moved, made into museum and cultural center
The city will lease it to the African American Cultural Coalition for the Sarasota African American Art Center and History Museum.
"It's important because of the activities we are going to have here. Many activities for the entire Sarasota community that celebrate African American history," said Vickie Oldham, the CEO and president of Sarasota African American Cultural Coalition.
The coalition will continue to tell the history of those who formed Overtown and Newtown within the home's walls.
They have plans to expand into a larger facility.
Rendering of a future Sarasota African American Art Center and History Museum
"That's what our kids need to know, that there was strength, courage, dignity in our community," said Melanie Lavender, a Newtown resident.
They'll give history lessons, first hand.
History of The Leonard Reid Family Home
"It's important for my future because, then, when I’m older and I have children, I can tell them about how our past, it was a struggle for us, and we didn’t have rights yet," said 7th-grader Isazah Johnson.
"This is just the beginning work, but as Dr. Martin Luther King said, we need to take one step. Not even seeing the staircase, but we need to take one step and that’s what we are doing," said Oldham.
Homestead of Mr. Leonard Reid, pioneer in Sarasota's first Black town, to be moved, made into museum and cultural center