# History of a Freedom-Seeking People
Kick off Native American Heritage Month with a special History Chat: Seminoles of African Descent. Guest speaker, Dr. Vincent Adejumo will explore this unique, complex relationship (that included both freedom and enslavement) between Black and Indigenous peoples in Florida in the 1700s to 1850s.
Attend the History Chat
Dr. Vincent Adejumo provides a general overview of the origins of the Black Seminoles of Florida, their impact in the Seminole Wars, and their legacy after being exiled from Florida from 10 - 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 1, at the Main Library. An audience Q&A will follow the 40-minute presentation.
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Note: This program is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation and is part of an ongoing series of free community programs exploring and collecting African American history.
About Our Guest Speaker
Dr. Vincent Edward Oluwole Adejumo currently serves as the founder and president of the Olu Institute of Learning Inc., and a public lecturer for the Florida Humanities Council where he focuses on the African American experience, particularly in the Southern United States. He is also the author of The Return of Black Nationalism and the Death of White Supremacy. His professional experience spans both high school and college, encompassing the development and teaching of courses like Introduction to African American Studies, The Wire, Mentoring At-Risk Youth, Black Wall Street, Black Masculinity, American National Government, State and Local Government, Psychology, and Sociology.
Dr. Adejumo's distinguished teaching record at the University of Florida led to his selection as Professor of the Year by the UF Black Student Union in 2015-2016. In 2017-2018, the UF College of Liberal Arts and Sciences presented him with their Professor and Advisor of the Year award.
Keep Reading
- The Black Seminoles: History of a Freedom-Seeking People, by Kenneth Wiggins Porter
- A Brief History of the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts, by Thomas Britten
- Our Land Before We Die: The Proud Story of the Seminole Negro Indians, by Jeff Guinn
- The Seminoles, by Edwin McReynolds
- The Seminoles of Florida, by James Covington
- Florida's Seminole Wars, 1817-1858, by Joe Knetsch
- Ride South Until the Sawgrass, by James Chapin
Are You Researching a Local Topic?
The Special Collections department at the Main Library has reference material related to Florida History, African American History, Genealogy, and more. Most of this you can't check out and take home. But we do have book scanners if you find something you need to save and refer to later.
Appointments are not required to visit Special Collection but you can call ahead at (904) 255-BOOK to schedule one if have specific research requirements or will require extra assistance. Our librarians can pull materials on a topic so they'll be waiting for you when you arrive! They can also teach you how to use the scanners, microfilm readers and other equipment.
Preparing for the History Fair? Click here for even more resources.
Non-Circulating Reference Material
African American History Collection
- Florida's Negro War: Black Seminoles and the Second Seminole War 1835-1842, by Anthony Dixon
- The Seminole Freedmen: A History, by Kevin Mulroy
- The Black Seminole Legacy and North American Politics, 1693-1845, by Bruce Edward Twyman
Florida Collection
- Traveling Florida’s Seminole Trail: A Complete Guide to Seminole Indian Historic and Cultural Sites, by Doug Alderson
- America's Hundred Years' War: U.S. Expansion to the Gulf Coast and the Fate of the Seminole 1763-1858, by William Belko
- Hunted Like a Wolf: The Story of the Seminole War, by Milton Meltzer
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