By LISA S. KING

Freeport News Reporter

lisa@nasguard.com

In observance of 'Black History Month,' the College of the Bahamas (COB) Northern campus held its annual luncheon yesterday with special emphasis on the legacy shared between African-Americans and Bahamians who made great contributions to the development of South Florida during the 20th century.

In recognition of this celebration, the staff of the Northern campus library erected displays of all the memorable moments in black history as recorded in the United States and The Bahamas.

Dr. Marvin Dunn, a noted professor of psychology and author of the book, Black Miami In The Twentieth Century, was chosen this year to bring an informative and enlightening lecture on the history of South Florida during that time and the significant contributions made by Bahamians.

Speaking to those attending the luncheon, Dr. Dunn said if there had not been blacks, particularly Bahamians, arriving in South Florida in the 1880s, there probably would not have been a city of Miami, as Bahamians were critical in terms of providing labour and leadership.

Most of the early Black leaders in Miami were of Bahamian extraction, he said, and represented a strong presence in the social, economic and political development of that city.

"They were the most vocal, they were the most resistant to discrimination," he said. "Our kids need to know that we made Florida, we made the country and, in that making, the Bahamians had a role that is just now beginning to be appreciated."

Dr. Dunn revealed his motivation in producing such a book was because of the need to have history written about the remarkable presence of black African-Americans and Bahamians.

Dr. Dunn said that black history was being ignored by white historians, particularly the history of Florida. It was important, he said, that it be told through black eyes because there were some things that were being missed by white historians because of the differences in cultural and historical experiences.

When he first began research for his book, he said his interest was to educate black Americans about the history of their country in terms of their involvement in its success; however, as he got more information, he realized that there was a great Bahamian connection which evolved as the book was being written.

"My concern was that black children, in particular, did not have a written history of that presence in South Florida," he said. "So the book was written for future generations of blacks, not just African-Americans, but also for others to know and appreciate our history."

According to Dr. Dunn, when the city of Miami was founded, 367 persons were present, 162 of whom were black men, and of that amount over half of them were Bahamian men.

Dr. Dunn noted that had it not been for the presence of those Bahamian men at the time to make up the state minimum to build the city, Miami may never have existed then.

"So I wanted to have our story told from our vantage point to include all of the things that we did, good and bad," he said. "But the whole story needed to be told and the book was an attempt to do that."

Dr. Dunn, who is an associate professor in the Psychology Department of the Florida International University, Miami, said it is very important for people to know their history because it is so easy to forget. It is also easy to pervert and for individuals to enter personal opinions and biases, he said.

"So it is very important that children especially know that their parents were not all servants or field hands who took life as they saw it and were subject to the discrimination and depression without trying to fight back and do something about it," he said.

Dr. Coralee Kelly, assistant vice president of COB Northern campus, said the college was very happy to be participating in such an event again.

She said the tight connection that The Bahamas has with the United States today shows how connected we lived in the past. She added that it was impressive to see the many contributions that Bahamians have made, as told by Dr. Dunn in his book, particularly of what took place in the city of Miami and how their lives became better despite the struggles experienced.

Embassy Public Affairs Specialist Catherine Gibson said that each year the Embassy celebrates African-American history month, and over the years they have collaborated with the College of the Bahamas to do an observance.

"We realized that there is an audience in Freeport, and so we would like to also give Freeport an opportunity to share in those activities," she said. "The embassy was very pleased to have the chance to collaborate with COB to bring this effort to Freeport."

Through the embassy's observance of Black history month, she said, Bahamians are given an opportunity to reflect on who they are as a people and to recognize the rich commitment and contributions by black Bahamians and African Americans.

CAPTION: BAHAMIAN LABOUR — Dr. Marvin Dunn, a noted professor of Psychology and author of the book, Black Miami In The Twentieth Century, gives an informative lecture on the importance of Bahamian labour in South Florida and how this involvement helped to shape the economic stance of the city of Miami today.(Staff photo by LISA KING)