OVERTOWN CELEBRATES JUNETEENTH

Juneteenth Creative Conversation

Historic Overtown comes together for

a Juneteenth mural unveiling and celebration

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Miami, Fla. – This past weekend at the Historic Ward Rooming House, the Executive Director of the Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (SEOPW CRA), James McQueen, participated in a creative conversation about the journey of Historic Overtown. In addition to the creative panel’s conversation, attendees had the opportunity to experience the unveiling of “OVERtown: Our Family Tree”, an interactive mural painted by artist Anthony Reed II “Mojo” on the historic Lawson E. Thomas building. This mural showcases “the definition of our very traditional way of passing down our cultural and societal history then transmuting it into positive change in our community” (Mojo). The Historic Lawson Thomas building was the law office of Lawson E. Thomas, the first Black Judge of Miami-Dade County.

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Through the redevelopment of Overtown, preserving historic sites and promoting the culture of Overtown is consistent with the SEOPW CRA’s goals. “ The importance of preserving historic sites such as the Lawson Thomas building is that it is a consistent reminder of who we are, where we are, and just how far we have come.”- James McQueen. The CRA redevelopment plan is “to undertake activities and projects that would eradicate conditions of slum and blight.”

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The SEOPW CRA partnered with Miami MoCAAD to showcase the history of Overtown and to give museums a new structural style. This mural is Miami MoCAAD’s first interactive mural. The mural will combine art and technology via the use of QR codes embedded in the mural allowing visitors to participate in “Overtown-related interactive treasure hunt games; 3-D model of the artist providing biographical information, and a museum experience map that invites engagement to chart the future Miami MoCAAD”.

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Miami MoCAAD’s mission is to “discover, commission, collect and preserve the work of the most advanced contemporary artists of the African Diaspora, and exhibit the art at the highest level both at home and abroad.”

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“Overtown was once an entertainment mecca graced with some of our nation’s greatest talents like Billy Holiday and Louis Armstrong. Overtown’s cultural roots run deep and it’s important to revive and reenergize this significant history to pave way for progress in the area”- City of Miami Commission Chairwoman and District Five Commissioner Christine King. The Mural “OVERtown: Our Family Tree” gives the Overtown community a chance to see themselves and their ancestors displayed in art throughout their community. This project will provide Historic Overtown visitors opportunities to better understand the historical and cultural significance of the community they are in.

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