Page 7 - Florida Sentinel 8-15-17

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First Annual African American Summit Planned To Honor 56th Anniversary Of Dr. King’s Visit To Tampa
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited Tampa on November 19, 1961 and spoke at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was in Tampa on November 19, 1961. The 56th anniver- sary of his visit is approaching. African Artifacts and Museum Exhi- bition and community pioneers, a group of retired African American leaders, educators and historians will be hosting an African American Sum- mit to recognize his visit to the city.
Clarence Davis and Clint Glover, both of Lakeland, are among those doing the ground work to make sure the event is successful.
The summit is planned for No- vember 19-21, 2017 – just after the Florida Class in Orlando, and leading into the Thanksgiving holiday week- end.
“We wanted to catch some of those people who will be in the area for the Classic, and those who will be coming home for Thanksgiving,” Glover said.
The summit will be held at the Hilton Downtown Tampa, 211 N. Tampa St. Sunday, is check-in and meet and greet. On Monday, the break-out sessions and panel discus- sions will be held throughout the day.
The signature event will be a gala/dinner on Monday evening with Dr. Ben Chavis, former National President, NAACP, and current Pres- ident, National Newspapers Publish- ers Association (NNPA).
The summit concludes on Tuesday afternoon.
According to those planning the event, “the purpose is to achieve Dr. King’s vision of Tampa Bay becoming the epicenter of all cultures working together to create jobs and business opportunities by attracting global economy wealth and technology.”
Ms. Cynthia Bailey, owner of the African Artifacts and Museum Ex- hibition says, “All cultures in Tampa Bay have made significant contribu- tions, not only to this great commu- nity, but all over the world.”
Davis said, “We’d like to engage the public in dialogue to resolve some of the issues that keep happening in our community. Right now we can’t deal with them because of all the cul- tural differences.”
Glover and Davis made several stops in Tampa last week. They re- ceived verbal commits of participa- tion in the summit from the Jewish Foundation, which was the home of the Armory; New York Life and Re- gions Bank.
They’re in search of persons will- ing to share memorabilia that they may have from Dr. King’s visit in
Clarence Davis and Clint Glover are working with a group that will host the First African American Summit in Tampa, November 19-21, 2017.
Tampa, or talk about their experience. “We’re trying to trace his steps while he was in town – where he stayed, where he ate, who he met with,” Glover stated.
Anyone with information, copies of programs from that evening, pho- tos or artifacts to share, can contact Davis at (813) 625-0103, or Glover at (863) 838-4031, or email, clglover51@aol.com.
Dr. King’s Visit In Tampa Dr. King addressed upwards of 4,500 of a mixed audience on that Sunday evening. He was in town as the guest speaker at the request of the Florida Conference of Branches NAACP for their First Fall Freedom Rally. Rev. A. Leon Lowry was the President. Mrs. E. P. Greene was the President of the Tampa Branch. Other Branches represented were: St. Petersburg, Lakeland, North Pinellas, Sarasota, Winter Haven, Haines City
and Lake Wales.
It is stated that 1 hour prior to the
speech, the Armory received word of a bomb threat, however, all who were there stayed.
Expected Bomb Scare
Robert Saunders, field secretary of NAACP, is pictured being told of bomb scare by Sgt. Robert Harris of Tampa Police Dept. Saunders told the officers, “I knew what you came for, it happens every time.’’ Dr. King also shrugged off the hoax as “death moans of old order.” (Photo and cutline from Florida Sen- tinel edition dated Friday, November 25, 1961.)
Dr. Martin Luther King Draws Crowd
A part of the 4,000 persons in the audience above who came out to hear Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., speak. The NAACP Freedom Fund Rally crowd also heard spectacular choral music from the combined choruses of Middleton and Blake High Schools (standing) and the St. Cecelia Choir of Gibbs High School (seated). (Photo and cutline from Florida Sentinel edition dated Friday, November 25, 1961.)
Dr. King Delivers Stirring Message At Armory
Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., famed integration leader spoke to a packed Ft. Homer Hesterly Armory Sunday (November 19, 1961). His masterly address drew generous applause and at its conclusion the great crowd stood cheering for several minutes. Rev. A. Leon Lowry, president of the state NAACP, sponsors of the program, Rev. King, and A. J. Ferrell, principal of Middleton High School. (Photo and cutline from Sentinel edi- tion dated Tuesday, November 21, 1961.)
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