Unhiding History: A Florida Fort that Promised Freedom

Did you know that a prosperous, self-governing community of free Black people existed on American soil long before the Civil War? In 1814, deep in the swamplands of Florida, a diverse group of formerly enslaved Black people took over a British military fort, built housing and farmland and lived truly free, for a time…

How did the Fort get formed? What happened after its destruction? It’s an incredible tale that spans decades and involves a community fighting for their rights between three different Empires.

Most importantly, though, why do so few of us know this story?

In this slide show presentation, followed by a facilitated conversation, we’ll share the rich history of the so-called ‘Negro Fort’ at Prospect Bluffs, Florida – and then begin to wonder and imagine about the gaps in the historical record. The tale of the Fort opens up a rich and empowering space for ‘critical fabulation’ about histories that might have been and possibilities for new forms of racial justice and self-determination today.

Theatre-maker Brian Mullin began researching the Fort several years ago on a Hearst Fellowship. Now based in London, Brian is working with director Tian Brown-Sampson to use this little-known story as the basis for a new theatre piece. The residents of the Fort had strong connections to the British Empire and traveled from Florida across the Caribbean to claim their freedom. This summer, Brian and Tian will be sharing the Fort’s history with Black British folks and exploring how their own activism today mirrors experiences from 200 years ago.

Join us to learn this story and share your own emotional and imaginative responses to it.