Published on September 3, 2025 at 3:27 pm
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Front Porch History: Mapping Undiscovered Stories of Black Jacksonville, launching Sept. 4 at the Ritz Theatre & Museum, is an interdisciplinary interplay between historical research, storytelling and visual art. The effort, distilled from hours of interviews, represents a fraction of the stories we’ve collected from those who were simply living their lives the best way they could. They are not sad stories and they do not evoke pity. They are simply stories of everyday people who greatly influenced Jacksonville’s schools, politics and social fabric.
We formed The Black Jacksonville Collective to gather these local stories that were not well documented. While many people have listened to their grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles talk about the past, they don’t always think the stories are special. The Collective is changing that narrative by researching hidden histories about the Black experience in Jacksonville. The members are:
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- Kelsi Hasden, founder of Rooted
- Dana Maule, Executive Director of Northside Pride
- Larry Wakefield, AKA DJ Larry Love, of Love Creates
- Vic Alexander, AKA Metamorphvic, of Elevated Media
- Sam Alexander of Elevated Media
Dana and I met at the beginning of the year at community meetings for Durkeeville residents. During these meetings, residents shared stories from the neighborhood, and she and I were both struck with awe about how individuals have been advocating for their communities for decades, just to be ignored. These residents have seen neighborhoods like Sugar Hill disappear, or I-95 constructed through their yards; they’ve lived in food deserts and experienced gentrification all while being silenced by redlining and redistricting.
Their anger was powerful and their love for their communities palpable. We knew there were more stories out there and that, if we worked together, we could share not just these stories but the history surrounding their lives.
Larry, Vic and Sam joined us, sharing their talents as artists, videographers and content creators to produce engaging and relevant videos of our interviews.
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With her work advocating for the Northside neighborhood and through her documentary, Moncrief Springs, Dana knows everyone, so she has been able to connect us with people who are willing to be interviewed.
By recording community elders and family members of iconic Jacksonville figures, everyone can appreciate their legacy: the sacrifice and hard work put in by families and ancestors for continuous progress.
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Front Porch History opens at the Ritz, 829 N. Davis St., on Thursday, Sept. 4, 904 Day, at 4 p.m.
The Collective will also be giving an Artists’ Talk on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 2 p.m. during the Ritz’s Community Appreciation Day. Register for free to attend.
