‘Fight a little more for Overtown': TED talks focus on preserving Black neighborhood

Miami Herald

3 days ago

Remnants of Overtown when it was a Black entertainment hub are still standing, such as the Lyric Theatre, the Ward Rooming House and the D.A. Dorsey House.
But like many other historic Black neighborhoods, Overtown has faced changes: the construction of the I-95 highway right through the middle of the neighborhood and the ongoing development gentrifying the area.
The is one of the reasons Joshua Jomarron wanted to bring back TedxOvertown, an event now in its second year that hosts a diverse group of speakers to give talks focusing on Overtown's progress and its future. This year's theme is 360 Perspectives, with a focus on understanding and respect for diverse veiwpoints and creating a space for people to have meaningful conversations that challenge assumptions. Jomarron said the theme also builds off of last year's theme which focused on the neighborhood's legacy and progress.
'Progress is inevitable, so it's either you hop on or get out of the way,' Jomarron said, ahead of Saturday's event, which takes place at Booker T. Washington High School in Overtown. 'But how do we do it in a way where we can preserve our history and preserve the legacy?'
Jomarron said the theme is intentionally broad to allow for a flow of ideas to emerge from this year's speakers, which include developer and entrepreneur Derek Fleming and Booker T. Washington High School alum Jasmine Williams. Jomarron said he chose the Overtown community to specifically focus on because residents are proud of the area's rich cultural heritage and its preservation.
'You have all of these places that are preserving history, and it's very much different than what we see in other communities in Miami,' Jomarron said. Areas like Wynwood look drastically different from when he first moved to Miami when he was a child, he said.
Fleming, who splits his time between Miami and New York and helped redevelop the former Clyde Killens' Pool Hall into Red Rooster in Overtown, said TedxOvertown is a way to ensure Overtown is a part of the conversation at a time when it comes to fortifying communities that have been neglected.
'I think with what's happening right now in our national political conversation, it's important to reaffirm that equity and inclusiveness is integral to how we build community, how we build cohesiveness in our cities,' he said, adding the area has seen a commitment to preserving the Black landmarks and investment in youth with places such as the Overtown Youth Center.
Fleming said his talk will focus on how the inclusion of historically-marginalized voices is important to the community development process and emphasized the importance of including voices of elders who live in Overtown and know and understand its rich history.
'There's an imperative that you consider the cultural capital of this place as it gets developed but another important piece of my talk is that cities like Miami really need to understand that when they replenish Black communities like Overtown, they actually benefit the entire city,' he said, adding he hopes people come to the event inspired and are reminded of what the neighborhood has lost and are pushed to protect the community.
Nicole Crooks spoke at the inaugural TedxOvertown event and is an advisor for this year's talks. She said she hopes through the talks people understand the importance of preserving the many physical spaces in the neighborhood as possible noting the restoration of the Lawson E. Thomas building and D.A. Dorsey Park as key fixtures in the community.
'We have a few places that have been historically designated, but my prayer is that we'll hold onto the ones that remain and that people who live here in Overtown and have deep roots whose families have lived here for generations will not be continually pushed out,' she said.
Jasmine Williams, Crooks' daughter and a recent graduate of Booker T. Washington High School in Overtown, will also be speaking at the event. She wants to ensure the voices of youth are heard and believes younger people have just as much to offer in the conversations about Overtown as those that came before them. 'I want people to know that the youth in Overtown are very resilient,' she said. 'There's nobody I've met at Booker T. that couldn't make a way for themselves if they wanted something.'
Like Fleming, she's worried about gentrification further overtaking the neighborhood, and wishes it could reclaim its moniker, 'Harlem of The South.'
She's hoping the TedxOvertown event will spur some energy in people to preserve the community: 'I hope they see a reason to fight a little more for Overtown.'
WHAT: TEDxOvertown
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 2
WHERE: Booker T. Washington High School, 1200 NW 6th Ave, Miami, FL 33136
COST: $25
INFO: https://tedxovertown.com/