The Historic Virginia Key Beach, established in 1945 as Miami-Dade County’s designated beach for African Americans, recently commemorated its 80th anniversary with a vibrant celebration. This site has been a significant place for the African American community, offering them a safe haven during a time of segregation, particularly when many of Miami’s beaches were off-limits to them.
Over the weekend of celebration, attendees were treated to free food, water slides, walking tours, and a unique Poetry Potluck event. The festivities also featured the announcement of an oral history project spearheaded by students from Miami Dade College, aiming to preserve and document the experiences of those who frequented the beach in its early years.
Shirley Newbold Funches, now 91, reminisced about her childhood memories of visiting the beach with her family. “I remember when my mother and my father used to bring my sisters and I over here to the beach and some of us had to come over in a boat,” she shared. “We had picnics around here.”
The park’s establishment was influenced by wade-in protests on May 9, 1945, which urged officials to create this waterfront property as a county park, intended to be “separate but equal” to the nearby Crandon Park on Key Biscayne.
Historic Virginia Key Beach was more than just a beach; it was a recreational area complete with a bathhouse, concession stand, carousel, mini-train rides, rental cottages, and cabanas, providing a refuge for the Black community in an era when such spaces were few and far between.
Athalie Edwards, the executive director and CEO of the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, expressed the significance of recognizing the park’s historical context. Standing beneath the Historic Dance Pavilion, she said, “It’s important for people to know that back then, in 1945, there was nowhere for Black people to recreate.”
She emphasized that their collective history, marked by struggles and resilience, has shaped the identity of the park. Edwards also acknowledged the seniors from the Charles Hadley Senior Program, many of whom had fond memories of spending time at the beach in their youth.
“We know the importance of Lemon City, Brownsville, Carol City, Little Haiti, Allapattah,” she noted. “Those different areas were socially disadvantaged, but we made sure that you guys had a place to come, and we’re going to continue through the trust and the mission and the vision.”
Current goals for the park include expanding its public outreach, reviving the mini-train, and restoring the carousel, according to Edwards. Although the commencement of the Historic Virginia Key Beach Museum has been delayed, she announced a partnership with Miami Dade College to test local water quality and record oral histories from the community.
Local resident Bertha Beckwit-Sneed, 92, reflected on the changes in the area since her youth, sharing her excitement for the anniversary festivities. “I’m 92 years old now, and when we drove in the area, I didn’t recognize anything that I remembered when I was a little girl. But this 80th celebration is a blessing. It’s a blessing, and we’re enjoying it.”
In line with the oral history project, Robert Henry, an assistant professor of humanities at Miami Dade College, noted the importance of capturing personal stories. Drawing from the work of Haitian-American anthropologist Michel-Rolph Trouillot, he emphasized that academic texts often do not represent the full narrative of lived experiences.
Henry aims for undergraduate students to conduct research and interviews to ensure these cherished recollections are preserved “before these elders pass.”
Among the first to share his memories was Charles Wright, 72, whose father worked as foreman at the park. Wright described the unique lifestyle of growing up on Historic Virginia Key Beach, living in a three-unit motel with his family until he was 16. “Living out there was fun, but it was lonely at times, because me and my dad and my brother were the only [ones] out there,” he recalled. “My football was a coconut. That’s how me and [my brother] played football together. I had a good life out there.”
Wright fondly remembered the small train that used to circle the park. “I remember being a little kid, and I used to stick my hand out and let the bushes hit my hand,” he said, clearly cherishing the memories of his childhood.
During the celebration, the community gathered around a birthday cake adorned with the Historic Virginia Key Beach logo, collectively singing happy birthday to the park. Shelly, the sea turtle mascot, entertained both children and seniors, creating a joyful atmosphere.
Attendees included local school children, who enjoyed walking tours and danced with Shelly, as well as notable figures like State Rep. Ashley Grant, Miami Commissioner Christine King, and community figure Keith “Papa Keith” Walcott.
“I just love the fact that it’s full circle. I love seeing the seniors here. I love seeing the youth [and] the summer camps here that are all focused around keeping the park alive,” Edwards concluded, signaling the ongoing mission to celebrate and preserve this historical site.
image source from：kbindependent
