♪ MUSIC ♪ >>HELLO.

I'M BUDDY PITTMAN AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF ROAD TRIP.

FEBRUARY IS BLACK HISTORY MONTH, AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF ACHIEVEMENTS BY AFRICAN AMERICANS AND A TIME FOR RECOGNIZING THEIR CENTRAL ROLE IN U.S. HISTORY.

IT'S A TRADITION THAT BEGAN BACK IN 1926 WHEN HISTORIAN CARTER WOODSON CONCEIVED THE IDEA OF NEGRO HISTORY WEEK.

THE EVENT WAS FIRST CELEBRATED DURING A WEEK IN FEBRUARY OF 1926 THAT ENCOMPASS THE BIRTHDAYS OF BOTH ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS.

THE RESPONSE WAS OVERWHELMING AND, OVER THE NEXT 50 YEARS, GREW TO THE POINT THAT PRESIDENT GERALD FORD, AS PART OF THE NATION'S BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATION IN 1976, OFFICIALLY DECLARED FEBRUARY AS BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN AMERICA'S STORY AS WELL AS THE HISTORY OF FLORIDA.

HARRY T. AND HARRIET V. MOORE ARE TWO OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO PAID THE ULTIMATE PRICE FOR THEIR BELIEFS.

THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT GAINED NOTORIETY IN THE 1960S WITH DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING.

BUT THAT MOVEMENT ACTUALLY BEGAN ALMOST TWO DECADES EARLIER WITH AN ACTIVIST WHO LIVED IN THE SMALL BREVARD COUNTY COMMUNITY OF MIMS.

>>HARRY T. AND HARRIET V. MOORE WERE THE FIRST CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS IN THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

THEY WERE BEFORE MARTIN LUTHER KING, MALCOLM X, BEFORE WE KNEW THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT TODAY.

>>HARRY T. MOORE TRULY WAS A MAN BEFORE HIS TIME.

AND TO PUT HIMSELF AND HIS FAMILY IN DANGER FOR THE BETTERMENT OF OTHERS TRULY SPEAKS TO THE VOLUME OF THE KIND OF CHARACTER.

>>HARRY T. MOORE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE STATE REGISTERING AFRICAN AMERICANS TO VOTE.

HE HAD A HUGE IMPACT AND PAVED THE WAY FOR CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVITIES THAT ARE BETTER KNOWN IN THE 1960S AND BEYOND.

>>HE UNDERSTOOD THAT IF WE CAN GET INVOLVED IN THE VOTING PROCESS, THAT LIVES WILL BE CHANGED.

>>HARRY T. MOORE WAS TEACHING BLACKS NOT TO BE AFRAID OF THE JIM CROW ERA.

HE KNEW HE WAS GONNA ULTIMATELY PAY A PRICE, BUT HE SAID FREEDOM IS NEVER FREE.

ON DECEMBER 25TH, 1951, IT WAS CHRISTMAS.

THEY CELEBRATED LIKE YOU AND I, BUT THE KLANSMEN WAS HIDING IN THE GROVE AND THEY HAD A LAYOUT TO HIS HOUSE.

THEY CRAWLED UNDER HIS HOUSE, 10:20 P.M., LIT THE DYNAMITE AND THEY SAID THAT WAS THE LOUDEST BOMB HEARD AROUND THE WORLD.

♪ SINGING ♪ >>HARRY DIED THAT NIGHT.

HARRIET, JUST NINE DAYS LATER.

TODAY, ON THAT SAME LAND IN MIMS, STANDS AN EXACT REPLICA OF THEIR HOME AS WELL AS A MUSEUM, ALL AS A TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICE.

♪ SINGING ♪ >>THIS MUSEUM GIVES US AN OPPORTUNITY TO BECOME AWARE OF THE LEGACY AND JUST HOW HE HAS IMPACTED LIVES TODAY.

>>IT WAS STANDING ON SOMEBODY'S SHOULDERS.

THERE WAS PEOPLE BEFORE US THAT FOUGHT WITH THEIR LIFES TO PAVE THE WAY FOR US.

LOOK AT AMERICA TODAY.

THE CHANGES WERE NEVER HAVE BEEN MADE HAVE HARRY T. MOORE NOT INSPIRED AND ENCOURAGED BLACKS BACK IN THOSE DAYS TO VOTE.

♪ SINGING ♪ >>EVEN BEFORE HARRY T. MOORE'S PUSH BEGAN FOR CIVIL RIGHTS, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN NAMED JULY PERRY WAS FIGHTING FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

A FIGHT THAT COST PERRY HIS LIFE AS PART OF THE 1920 OCOEE MASSACRE.

>>WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT 1920 WAS A REALLY BIG YEAR IN THE UNITED STATES FOR VOTING.

AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND MEN WERE ALL REALLY GEARING UP TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 1920 ELECTION.

THREE DAYS BEFORE NOVEMBER 2ND, 1920, VOTING DAY, THERE WAS A LOT OF KLAN ACTIVITY HAPPENING.

THERE WAS A MARCH TRYING TO DISSUADE AFRICAN AMERICANS TO GO OUT AND TO EXERCISE THEIR LEGAL RIGHT TO VOTE.

>>MOSE NORMAN, A LOCAL AFRICAN AMERICAN FARMER, ARRIVED AT THE POLLS TO CAST HIS VOTE, BUT WAS TURNED AWAY.

NORMAN LATER RETURNED WITH A GUN AND A LETTER OF SUPPORT FROM A LOCAL JUDGE CONFIRMING HIS RIGHTS.

A FIGHT ENSUED AND NORMAN FLED TO THE HOUSE OF JULY PERRY, A FRIEND AND BUSINESS OWNER IN OCOEE.

>>THIS IS WHERE THE STORY STARTS TO GET REALLY FUZZY.

THE KKK, EVEN SOME PEOPLE FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO WERE MEMBERS OF BOTH, SHOWED UP AND ASKED THEM TO COME OUT.

>>AND THERE WAS SOMETHING OF A SHOWDOWN WHERE A SHOT WAS FIRED.

WHEN THAT HAPPENED, THERE WAS AN ORAL HISTORY ACCOUNT THAT SAID "THAT'S WHEN THE DEVIL GOT LOOSE".

>>JULY PERRY WAS HIT.

SUPPOSEDLY, EVERYBODY RAN OUT OF THE HOME, JULY PERRY LEAVING LAST AND WAS CAPTURED.

>>HE WAS BROUGHT TO THE JAIL IN ORANGE COUNTY WHERE THE KU KLUX KLAN HAD BROKEN HIM OUT AND LYNCHED HIM NEAR THE HOME OF JUDGE CHENEY.

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHERE JULY PERRY WAS HUNG WAS TO SEND A MESSAGE, NOT ONLY TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO ALLIES OF BLACKS IN THE COMMUNITY, QUOTING "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN NEGROES TRY TO VOTE".

>>AFTER THE LYNCHING, THE SAME MOB WENT TO OCOEE, RUNNING OUT THE FAMILIES AND DESTROYING HOMES AND BUSINESSES.

WHILE THE OFFICIAL DEATH TOLL IS UNKNOWN, IT IS ESTIMATED BETWEEN 6 AND 60 AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS WERE KILLED.

>>IT WAS THE VOTING DAY THAT SPARKED THE LARGER ISSUE WHICH WAS THE RISE OF BLACK POWER IN THE SOUTH.

IT WASN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN OCOEE.

IT WAS ACTUALLY SOMETHING THAT WAS HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE NATION.

>>THIS IS A HISTORIC DAY FOR OUR COMMUNITY AS WE UNVEIL THE MARKER OF JULY PERRY.

>>THIS IS NOT ONLY A MONUMENT TO JULY PERRY, THIS VERY IMPORTANT VICTIM OF LYNCHING THAT MADE SUCH AN IMPACT IN ORANGE COUNTY.

HIS LEGACY AND THAT MARKER REMINDS US OF THE IMPACT THAT CONTINUES TO BE MADE BY TRENDSETTERS IN BLACK BUSINESS AND IN BLACK EMPOWERMENT.

>>IT IS BECAUSE OF HIS SACRIFICE AND OTHER AFRICAN AMERICANS BEFORE ME, THAT I'M ABLE TO STAND HERE TODAY AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR OF ORANGE COUNTY.

>>WE CAN USE THIS MARKER AS A PLACE TO ENGAGE AND START A CONVERSATION AND UNDERSTAND AND EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

THAT'S WHY THIS MARKER IS SO SIGNIFICANT BEING THE FIRST IN ORANGE COUNTY, AND WE'RE INCREDIBLY PROUD TO HAVE WORKED SO DILIGENTLY AND HAVE THE BUY-IN OF OUR CITY AND OUR COMMUNITY TO COME TOGETHER AND MAKE THIS INCREDIBLE MEMORIAL HAPPEN.

>>ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN VOLUSIA COUNTY HISTORY WAS ACTUALLY A TEACHER.

MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE TURNED HER VISION INTO REALITY.

>>MS.

BETHUNE BELIEVED IN THE CONSTITUTION OF THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

AND SHE WOULD MAKE AMERICA LIVE UP TO THAT CREED.

>>MS.

BETHUNE WAS A VERY INTERESTING PERSON.

SHE HAD THIS DREAM.

SHE ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A TEACHER.

SHE CAME TO DAYTONA AND STARTED THIS SCHOOL HERE WITH FIVE LITTLE GIRLS AND A DOLLAR AND A HALF AND FAITH IN GOD.

>>THE SCHOOL STARTED OCTOBER THE 3RD, 1904.

AND THE SCHOOL GREW RAPIDLY.

>>IN 1927, BETHUNE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS MERGED WITH THE COOKMAN INSTITUTE FROM JACKSONVILLE, EVENTUALLY BECOMING WHAT IS NOW KNOWN AS BETHUNE-COOKMAN UNIVERSITY.

MRS. BETHUNE HELPED CHANGE THE CULTURE OF NOT ONLY DAYTONA BEACH BUT ALSO A NATION.

>>CAN YOU IMAGINE, IN 1945, AN AFRICAN AMERICAN YOUNG LADY HAS BEEN CHOSEN TO BE A PART OF SETTING UP THE CHARTER FOR THE UNITED NATIONS?

BEING THE ADVISOR FOR FOUR U.S. PRESIDENTS?

THIS IS BIGGER THAN DAYTONA BEACH.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN BETHUNE-COOKMAN.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A WOMAN THAT INTERNATIONALLY FOUGHT FOR CHANGE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

WE HONOR HER FOR WHAT SHE BELIEVED IN AND WHAT SHE FOUGHT FOR.

AND THAT WAS THAT FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING, IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THIS WORLD, THAT WE ARE TREATED JUSTLY.

>>IF YOU'VE GOT A DREAM AND ARE REALLY WILLING TO FULFILL IT, YOU CAN DO ANYTHING.

BECAUSE ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE.

>>IT WAS THANKS TO THE UNIFIED ATMOSPHERE CREATED BY MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE THAT ENABLED ONE OF THE LANDMARK EVENTS IN SPORTS HISTORY TO HAPPEN IN DAYTONA BEACH.

>>DAYTONA BEACH WAS FAMOUS FOR HOW BLACKS AND WHITES WORKED TOGETHER POLITICALLY.

AND THAT'S BECAUSE OF THE IMPACT OF BETHUNE-COOKMAN COLLEGE, DR. MARY MCLEOD BETHUNE, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WORKED AT CITY HALL WITH HER.

BLACKS AND WHITES WORKING TOGETHER.

IT WAS REALLY DIFFERENT IN DAYTONA BEACH, POLITICALLY.

>>CITY ISLAND BALL PARK WAS BUILT AROUND 1914.

32 YEARS LATER, THE COLOR BARRIER IN BASEBALL WAS BROKEN AT CITY ISLAND AS JACKIE ROBINSON INTEGRATED PRO BASEBALL WHILE PLAYING IN A SPRING TRAINING GAME FOR THE MONTREAL ROYALS.

>>MS.

BETHUNE WAS A PERSON THAT WAS FOR JACKIE ROBINSON.

SHE WAS FOR INTEGRATION.

DAYTONA SEWED A WELCOME JACKET WITH OPEN ARMS.

THAT WAS MS. BETHUNE WAS STRIVING FOR.

NOT NECESSARILY A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD, BUT AT LEAST A FIELD THAT WE COULD PLAY ON.

>>THIS WAS A MILESTONE IN SPORTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS HISTORY.

THIS WAS THE FIRST RACIALLY INTEGRATED SPRING TRAINING IN MODERN PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL HISTORY.

>>JACKIE WAS VERY INSPIRING BECAUSE HE WAS A BLACK MAN DOING NEW THINGS.

SEEING JACKIE ROBINSON PLAYING WAS VERY INSPIRING TO US BECAUSE THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD NEVER SEEN.

AND TO SEE HIM IN THIS SETTING WAS EVEN MORE INSPIRING BECAUSE WE KNEW THAT HE COULD PLAY BALL.

>>DURING THAT GAME, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS DEMONSTRATED WAS THAT INTEGRATED BASEBALL COULD BE ACCEPTED IN THE SEGREGATED SOUTH.

IT'S NICE TO SEE THE FANS ACCEPT IT HERE IN DAYTONA BEACH AND HE GOT CHEERS AND LIKE ANY OTHER BALL PLAYER WOULD, AS HE DESERVED.

>>ONE OF THE EARLIEST ATTRACTIONS IN FLORIDA WAS MARION COUNTY'S SILVER SPRINGS.

BUT FEW ARE AWARE THAT SILVER SPRINGS ACTUALLY HAD A SISTER ATTRACTION CALLED PARADISE PARK.

♪ MUSIC ♪ >>PARADISE PARK WAS THE ALTERNATIVE TO SILVER SPRINGS ATTRACTION.

SILVER SPRINGS ATTRACTION BASICALLY HAD ALL MINORITY WORKERS AT SILVER SPRINGS.

BUT THOSE SAME WORKERS COULD NOT GOT TO SILVER SPRINGS.

THEREFORE, PARADISE PARK WAS DEVELOPED FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.

RAY AND DAVIDSON WERE THE OWNERS OF SILVER SPRINGS.

THEY FORMED A PARTNERSHIP AND OPENED PARADISE PARK FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ONLY.

THEY USED A TERM BACK THEN CALLED "COLORED", ONLY AT THAT TIME.

AFRICAN AMERICANS DIDN'T GO TO SILVER SPRINGS.

WHITE AMERICANS DIDN'T ATTEND PARADISE PARK.

BUT THEY ESSENTIALLY HAD BASICALLY SOME OF THE SAME AMENITIES.

>>JUST LIKE SILVER SPRINGS, PARADISE PARK OFFERED GLASS BOTTOM BOAT RIDES, PICNIC AREAS, A BEACH AREA FOR SWIMMING.

IN FACT, CHURCHES EVEN USED THE PARK FOR BAPTISMS.

EVERY LABOR DAY, THE LOCAL AMERICAN LEGION POST HELD A BEAUTY PAGEANT IN THE PARK.

>>THE CUSTOMERS AND THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ATTENDED PARADISE PARK, THEY OWNED THE PARK BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR PARK, THEY KEPT IT UP, AND IT WAS A SAFE HAVEN FOR THEM TO GO.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AN AREA OF JIM CROW'S LAWS, AND WHITE AND BLACKS JUST DID NOT MIX.

SO, PARADISE PARK WAS A SPOT FOR MANY AFRICAN AMERICANS, NOT JUST FROM HERE IN OCALA, ALL OVER THE STATE.

WE'VE HAD HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF VISITORS AT PARADISE PARK.

>>VISITORS WOULD COME FROM AS FAR AWAY AS NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA TO VISIT THE PARK.

CYNTHIA GRAHAM CO-AUTHORED A BOOK TELLING THE STORY OF PARADISE PARK AND THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO WERE THERE.

>> PARADISE PARK WAS OPEN FROM 1949, AND IT CLOSED QUIETLY IN 1969.

SO, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A 20 YEAR HISTORY AT PARADISE PARK.

SO, IT WAS A MEGA PLACE FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS.

THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT PARADISE PARK WAS MUSIC, FAMILY-ORIENTED, AND IT WAS A SAFE HAVEN FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS TO GO.

>>ONE OF BREVARD COUNTY'S LEGENDS IS RICHARD E. STONE, A MAN WITH AN INTERESTING AND INVENTIVE LEGACY.

>>RICHARD STONE WAS THE FOUNDER OF STONE FUNERAL HOME IN COCOA AND MELBOURNE.

HE WAS AN UNUSUAL PERSON, AND THAT HE WAS A THINKER.

AND HE WAS ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE SOMETHING HAPPEN AND SOMETHING THAT WAS DIFFERENT.

THERE WAS NO AFRICAN AMERICAN FUNERAL HOME BETWEEN JACKSONVILLE AND WEST PALM BEACH.

SO, HE STARTED STONE FUNERAL HOME IN 1923.

HE DECIDED TO MOVE TO THE COCOA AREA SO HE COULD SERVE THE ENTIRE COUNTY.

>>RICHARD STONE HELPED TO START THE COCOA ROCKLEDGE CIVIL LEAGUE, ESTABLISHED THE FIRST RECREATIONAL CENTER BUILDING, AND ALSO STARTED COCOA'S FIRST BLACK PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM.

AND THEN, HE INVENTED AND ITEM THAT WE USE EVERY DAY, THE DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL ON YOUR CAR, UNFORTUNATELY AN INVENTION FOR WHICH HE NEVER GOT PROPER CREDIT.

>>RICHARD STONE GOT A PATENT FOR THE DIRECTIONAL TURN SIGNAL, BUT HE COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY TO BACK HIM AND PROVIDE THE FUNDING.

AFTER THE PATENT WENT THROUGH IT'S COURSE, ANOTHER PERSON CAME ALONG, MADE A MINOR CHANGE TO IT, AND THEY GOT THE CREDIT AND THE MONEY.

>>AFTER ALMOST A HUNDRED YEARS, STONE FUNERAL HOME IS STILL SERVING THE BREVARD COUNTY COMMUNITY.

THE CITY OF EATONVILLE IN ORANGE COUNTY IS THE OLDEST BLACK INCORPORATED MUNICIPALITY IN THE UNITED STATES, INCORPORATED IN 1887.

ONE OF THE COMMUNITY'S MOST NOTED RESIDENTS WAS AUTHOR ZORA NEALE HURSTON.

>>IN TERMS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, ZORA NEALE HURSTON SAVED THE TOWN OF EATONVILLE.

WE SAY THAT ZORA NEALE HURSTON AND THE TOWN OF EATONVILLE ARE TWO SIDES OF THE SAME HAND.

EATONVILLE IS SO MUCH A PART OF HER CULTURAL AND LITERARY NARRATIVE.

>>AT ONE POINT, SHE WAS THE MOST PROLIFIC AND WELL-READ AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMAN OF HER TIME.

>>A LOT TIMES OUT HERE ARE QUESTIONING, "WHAT DOES ZORA MEAN TO EATONVILLE?"

I THINK IF SHE WAS HERE, SHE WOULD SAY, "WHAT DO EATONVILLE MEAN TO ZORA?"

I THINK IT WAS A MUTUAL THING THAT JUST CAME OUT TO BE SOMETHING GREAT.

>>HER FATHER TOOK THE FAMILY TO EATONVILLE WHEN HURSTON WAS ABOUT ONE OR TWO YEARS OLD.

SHE HAD BEEN BORN IN NOTASULGA, ALABAMA, WHICH WAS STILL PART OF THE OLD SOUTH.

AND SO, EATONVILLE REPRESENTED THE NEW SOUTH AND AN UP AND COMING FRONTIER LAND, WHICH FLORIDA WAS AT THE TIME.

AND HURSTON JUST REALLY ABSORBED ALL OF THE WONDERFUL THINGS ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA.

THE LANDSCAPE, THE PLANTS, THE ANIMALS.

EVERYTHING APPEARS IN HER WORK.

WELL, YOU CAN ACTUALLY GO TO THE EATONVILLE CEMETERY AND FIND THE NAMES OF PEOPLE WHO APPEAR IN HER BOOKS.

>>I THINK EATONVILLE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT SHAPED HER WRITING.

I MEAN, YOU GET THIS WOMAN, THIS LITTLE GIRL WHO GROWS UP IN A TOWN, THAT'S AN ALL-BLACK TOWNSHIP.

AND THE PEOPLE WHO HELD POWER, THE PEOPLE WHO TOLD THE BEST STORIES ON THE PORCH, THESE WERE ALL AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>>SHE WAS BLESSED TO BE IN AN ALL-BLACK TOWN WHERE ALL THE LEADERS AND EVERYONE IN TOWN WAS BLACK.

AND SO, THIS GAVE HER A GOOD SENSE OF SELF, WHICH SHE CARRIED WITH HER THE REST OF HER LIFE.

>>SHE JUST WOULD NOT GIVE UP.

AND THAT KIND OF PERSISTENCE RESONATES WITH PEOPLE.

I THINK THAT PEOPLE IN EATONVILLE EMBRACE ZORA NEALE HURSTON.

SHE IS DEFINITELY A GLOBAL ICON.

>>IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE HISTORY OF EATONVILLE, THERE REALLY ARE THREE MAJOR FIGURES IN BRINGING IT TO WIDE PUBLIC CONSCIOUSNESS.

THE FIRST IS JOE CLARK, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS.

THE SECOND IS BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.

AND THEN, ZORA NEALE HURSTON.

>>SHE'S AN INCREDIBLE STORY.

I DON'T THINK SHE HAD A SENSE OF LIMITATION.

SHE'S REALLY RAW.

SHE'S DIFFERENT FROM EVERYBODY ELSE.

SHE'S REALLY VERY INTERESTING.

SHE DOES NOT GROW OLD.

>>IT WAS WONDERFUL TO BE AROUND ZORA BECAUSE SHE TAUGHT YOU HOW TO SPEAK CORRECT ENGLISH.

ZORA WAS WONDERFUL PERSON.

>>THE MOSELEY HOUSE WAS THE HOME OF JIM AND MATILDA MOSELEY.

AND MATILDA, OR MS. TILLY, WAS A FRIEND OF ZORA NEALE HURSTON.

AND WHEN ZORA WOULD COME BACK TO EATONVILLE, SHE WOULD OFTEN STAY HERE AT THIS HOUSE.

AND A LOT OF HER STORIES AND HER WRITINGS ARE BASED IN EATONVILLE, AND ALL CHARACTERS AND PEOPLE THAT SHE KNEW.

>>EATONVILLE, BECAUSE OF ZORA NEALE HURSTON, HAS A NATIONAL PERSONA AND AN INTERNATIONAL RESONANCE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT EATONVILLE, LITERALLY, IT'S KNOWN AS A DESTINATION BECAUSE OF THAT WONDERFUL ABILITY OF HER TO TELL A STORY.

♪ SINGING ♪ >>WHEN I INTERVIEWED THE WOMEN WHO KNEW HER, THEY GAVE ME A SENSE OF FAMILY, THAT SHE WAS PART OF THE FAMILY AND PEOPLES HUNG TOGETHER AND THROUGH THICK AND THIN.

AND SO, THEY WERE VERY PROUD OF HER AND HER ACHIEVEMENTS.

>>SHE WROTE "THEIR EYES ARE WATCHING GOD" VERY QUICKLY IN ABOUT SIX TO EIGHT MONTHS AS I RECOLLECT.

AND SHE WROTE IT AFTER A ROMANTIC EXPERIENCE WITH A YOUNGER MAN.

>>I JUST THINK IT, ON SO MANY LEVELS THAT WORK, CAN APPEAL TO MANY MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

JUST THE LANGUAGE ITSELF, THE VERNACULAR.

SO, SHE PRESENTED A MULTIFACETED, MULTICULTURAL PORTRAIT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN EXPERIENCE.

AND I THINK THIS IS ONE OF HER UNIQUE CONTRIBUTIONS.

>>SHE REALLY WANTED PEOPLE TO KNOW WHAT AN AMAZING AND VALUABLE AND VIBRANT CULTURE SHE CAME FROM.

AND I THINK SHE DID THAT.

>>THE STORIES I HEAR MORE NOW IS THE IMPACT OF HER LIVING HERE.

BUT ONCE YOU SAY ZORA, THEY KNOW IF THEY'RE FROM MONTANA OR IF THEY'RE FROM CHICAGO, THEY SAY ZORA NEALE HURSTON.

SO, THAT EXCITES ME JUST TO KNOW THAT THE NAME HAS THAT MUCH POWER TO IT.

>>THE ST. LAWRENCE A.M.E. CHURCH, ESTABLISHED IN 1881, WAS EATONVILLE'S VERY FIRST CHURCH, AND IT STILL SERVES THE COMMUNITY TO THIS DAY.

INSIDE THE CHURCH, YOU CAN FIND A GALLERY OF RELIGIOUS WORKS OF ART.

>>INSIDE ARE THESE BEAUTIFUL MURALS DONE BY ANDRE SMITH.

THESE ARE PAINTINGS OF BIBLICAL SCENES FEATURING AFRICAN AMERICANS, AND IT'S REALLY AN AMAZING SIGHT.

>>THE SERIES OF ARTWORK THAT ANDRE CREATED THAT ARE IN THE CHURCH IN EATONVILLE, WHAT WERE UNUSUAL ABOUT THEM WAS THAT THEY WERE THE ENTIRE HOLY FAMILY AND BIBLICAL CHARACTERS AS AFRICAN AMERICANS, WHICH AS ONE CAN IMAGINE, EVEN FOR THAT TIME PERIOD, WAS A BIT UNUSUAL.

BUT THEY ARE CONSIDERED MASTERPIECES OF ANDRE'S WORK AS HE TRIED TO EMBRACE ALL CULTURES AND ALL PEOPLES.

>>YEARS BEFORE DISNEY AND THE THEME PARKS, THERE WERE ACTUALLY SIGNS THAT ENTERTAINMENT AND TOURISM WOULD HELP DEFINE ORLANDO.

ONE OF THOSE EARLY SIGNS WAS THE WELLS'BUILT HOTEL.

IN THE SHADOW OF THE AMWAY CENTER IN DOWNTOWN ORLANDO SITS THE WELLS'BUILT MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CULTURE.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY A HOTEL BUILT IN 1926 AND OFFERED BLACK TRAVELERS SAFE ROOM AND BOARD.

>>THIS WAS DURING TIMES OF EXTREME SEGREGATION.

SO, AFRICAN AMERICANS WERE NOT ABLE TO RENT ROOMS OR GET LODGING AT ANY OF THE OTHER DOWNTOWN ORLANDO HOTELS.

>>THERE WAS A HOTEL ON ORANGE AVENUE, BUILT BY A MAN NAMED MR. ANGE.

AND WHEN MR. ANGE OPENED HIS HOTEL, HE CALLED IT THE ANGEBILT.

AND WHEN DR. WELLS OPENED HIS HOTEL IN THE LATE TWENTIES, HE CALLED IT THE WELLS'BUILT.

>>THE WAY THE BUILDING WAS STRUCTURED, IN THOSE DAYS, THE ENTIRE DOWNSTAIRS FLOOR WAS USED AS STOREFRONTS.

SO, HE WOULD PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY AND A PLACE FOR BLACK BUSINESSOWNERS TO COME AND SELL THEIR GOODS OR SERVICES OR WARES.

AND THEN UPSTAIRS, THERE WERE 20 HOTEL ROOMS THAT HE WOULD MAKE AVAILABLE TO AFRICAN AMERICAN TRAVELERS OR ENTERTAINERS OR WHOMEVER NEEDED LODGING.

>>DR.

WELLS WANTED SOCIAL OUTLETS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS.

AND SO, HE BUILT A PERFORMANCE HALL THAT WAS CALLED THE SOUTH STREET CASINO.

>>IT WASN'T A CASINO.

THERE WASN'T GAMBLING, BUT IT WAS A MEETING SPACE, A PERFORMANCE VENUE, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE COULD GATHER, HAVE A GOOD MEAL, LISTEN TO SOME GREAT LIVE MUSIC.

>>HE BOOKED BIG BANDS LIKE COUNT BASIE AND DUKE ELLINGTON AND BILLIE HOLIDAY.

AND THEY PERFORMED AT THE SOUTH STREET CASINO.

>>THE SOUTH STREET CASINO WAS A VERY INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMMUNITY AT THAT TIME.

AND YES, THERE WERE SOME FANTASTIC LIVE PERFORMERS.

RAY CHARLES PERFORMED AT THE SOUTH STREET CASINO, AND HE STAYED AT THE WELLS'BUILT.

AND IN FACT, THERE IS, ON THE LEFT SIDE OF OUR BUILDING, THERE'S A FLIGHT OF STAIRS.

AND HE WOULD STAY IN THIS ONE PARTICULAR ROOM EVERY SINGLE TIME THAT HE CAME TO THE WELLS'BUILT HOTEL.

AND HE DID SO BECAUSE HE HAD PACED OUT, FROM THAT FLIGHT OF STAIRS, WHERE THE ROOM WAS.

AND IT'S TOLD THAT YOU WEREN'T ALLOWED TO MOVE FURNITURE IN THAT ROOM.

AND EVERY TIME HE NEEDED TO STAY HERE, HE WAS GONNA STAY IN THAT SAME ROOM, CAUSE HE HAD IT PACED OUT IN HIS HEAD EXACTLY WHERE THINGS WERE.

>>RAY CHARLES COMES HERE AFTER BEING EXPELLED FROM THE SCHOOL FOR THE DEAF AND THE BLIND IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

HE'S 15 YEARS OLD AND GETS WORK WITH THREE BANDS TO SUPPORT HIMSELF.

SO, HE PLAYS IN THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CLUBS IN THE PARRAMORE DISTRICT, HE PLAYS FOR SUNDAY TEA DANCES ATOP THE ANGEBILT HOTEL, AND HE PLAYS IN A COUNTRY-WESTERN BAND IN KISSIMMEE CALLED THE FLORIDA PLAYBOYS.

SO, HE WAS CONSTANTLY WORKING AND HE STILL COULDN'T MAKE ENDS MEET.

AND THE REASON HE ENDED UP IN SEATTLE WAS AFTER FAILING TO MAKE ENDS MEET HERE, HE ASKED A FRIEND TO MEET HIM AND BRING A MAP OF THE UNITED STATES.

AND HE SAT DOWN WITH THE FRIEND AND SAID, "WHAT'S THE FURTHEST CITY AWAY FROM ORLANDO?"

AND THE FRIEND SAID SEATTLE, AND HE WENT TO SEATTLE.

>>EVERYONE IS FAMILIAR WITH MARTIN LUTHER KING.

MOST PEOPLE ARE FAMILIAR WITH THURGOOD MARSHALL.

BUT, THERE ARE A LOT OF LOCAL PEOPLE WHO PLAYED A VERY IMPORTANT PART IN CIVIL RIGHTS, IN VOTING RIGHTS.

AND SO, THIS MUSEUM IS A TRIBUTE TO THINGS THAT HAPPENED LOCALLY HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA.

ALSO, A TRIBUTE TO THE MUSIC THAT PLAYS SUCH A HUGE PART OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND CULTURE IN GENERAL.

>>AFRICAN AMERICANS HAVE PLAYED AN INTRICATE ROLE IN AMERICA'S STORY.

IN THIS PROGRAM, WE'VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO HIGHLIGHT JUST A FEW OF THE STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE LEFT SUCH A PROFOUND LEGACY.

IT IS DIVERSITY THAT HAS HELPED GIVE THIS NATION IT'S STRENGTH AND CHARACTER.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING WE SHOULD ALL CELEBRATE EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR.

FOR ROAD TRIP, I'M BUDDY PITTMAN.