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‘I’m a believer in sharing these stories:’ Central Florida historian shares her story for Women’s History Month

Francina Boykin is founding member of Democracy Forum’s Ocoee Research Project

OCOEE, Fla. – You can call her a walking history book. Born and raised in Apopka, Francina Boykin said her mission is to continue educating about the historical events that have occurred right in our backyard.

“Unveiling the research through the citizens of Ocoee. It was a time of OK here are our facts. This is what happened,” Boykin said.

Boykin is the founding member of the Democracy Forum’s Ocoee Research Project which was formed in the late ‘90s.

Members of the group spent years researching facts about the Ocoee Massacre of 1920.

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“That was about 30 plus people in the original group, and I kept getting involved in some type of way because my name was attached to it now,” Boykin explained.

The research even led members to other facts surrounding other Central Floridians such as the late July Perry.

“Never been to Greenwood Cemetery in my life after we located July Perry, and they even had the actual records,” Boykin said.

While Boykin is retired from her job with a law firm, she said it’s Central Florida’s history that keeps her going.

Whether that’s helping students with projects or planning the next community event, with research comes purpose.

“I’m a believer in sharing these stories because our young people need to know so that they can understand who they are and where they are going in life,” Boykin said.


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