Way Across the Bridge


This is my first blog. However, history has been fascinating to me since my college history courses with professor Benny Arkwright's lectures and assignments at Savannah State University. For such a small community, Merritt Island, community on the eastern shores of Brevard County has a wealth of information about the natural environment and white culture. Without being sarcastic, it is easier to locate diverse wildlife sanctuaries and boating spots than to gather knowledge on the diversity of humans on the Island.


The objectives for this site are to help readers, through facts and photos/captions, clearly connect that African Americans on Merritt Island, Florida, played a key role in the settlement and growth of the entire Brevard County; ignite curiosity and more questions,references and comments from others; and, most importantly, support local historians as they search for knowledge leaders and community story tellers. The next novels, news articles and tourism guides won't omit the history of our neighbors.




Recently, playwrite and local director, Mary Purdy noted that she experienced a lot of frustration in searching for historical information on people of color  in both Titusville and Merritt Island. At the premier of her local play, "Footprints-A Black Anthology", in Titusville, 2010, she reflected, "Not many know that Merritt Island was settled by black pioneers and that the spark that ignited the Civil Rights Movement was struck right here" in this community.

• Stay tuned for detailed information on Zora Neale Hurston's residence on Merritt Island, Douglas Dummitt and wife Leadra Fernandez, Dennis Sawyer-built and organized the Greater Mt Olive AME Church;Clifton Community School;Harry T. Moore's wife Harriette Sims Moore. More recent historical facts will be shared about Donald Williams and Noel Harris-Tuskegee Airmen, Dr. Henry Jerkins-doctor, David Moss-first black honor graduate at Merritt Island High School ( I was the second black honor graduate in 1982); Leon Bright-football player;Bubba McDowell-football player; Florida Highway men artists live on Merritt Island, Tropical Park Civic League organization, Palmetto Elementary School