Campus Conversation: Pensacola and its Hidden Black Histories

In recognition of Black History Month, the UWF Office of Campus Culture and Access and the Gulf Islands National Seashore are pleased to bring you a Campus Conversation on Pensacola and its Hidden Black Histories.

The Underground Railroad in Pensacola is one of the best-kept secrets in United States history. In the mid-1800s, enslaved people seized their freedom by following routes southward to Pensacola and beyond. During the Civil War, the U.S. military presence in West Florida motivated even more enslaved people to pursue freedom. Some joined the U.S. Colored Troops (USCT), playing an important but often overlooked role in the fight in the American Civil War. This Campus Conversation, brought to you by the UWF Office of Campus Culture and Access (OCCA) and the Gulf Islands National Seashore, and in honor of Black History Month, preserves and shares these histories, offering opportunities for reflection on the struggle for human dignity. We invite you to join us as we bring into alignment the missions of the National Park Service and OCCA by fostering reflective dialogue, creating transformational and educational experiences, and preserving the narratives of those who shaped American history.