As we’re wrapping up Black History Month, I want to say thank you so much to everyone who shared your story ideas with us! We had such a rich month celebrating the contributions and achievements of Central Florida Black actors, artists, nonprofit workers, business owners, and more. Here’s our roundup of this month’s coverage!
Black business success stories
Recommended Videos
Orange City has a new wine bar! Tralove Lawrence opened Amour Du Vin last month, the first Black-owned, woman-owned wine room in Orange City. Watch her and reporter Treasure Roberts discuss Tralove’s new successful business over some charcuterie and, most importantly, wine!
More of a snacky person? Central Florida’s Chauniqua Major, who goes by Major, dreamt up Major’s Project Pop when she realized that most popcorn on the market had too many ingredients that she couldn’t pronounce. This realization led to her vegan, non-GMO popcorn line. Read about Major’s inspiration here!
Black history and achievements
It wouldn’t be Black History Month without the “history,” and Central Florida touts plenty of Black men and women who have made history. In 1970, Alonzo Williams Jr. broke barriers by becoming the first Black city commissioner in Apopka. News 6 reporter Jerry Askin spoke with Alonzo’s younger brother, Dr. Robert Williams, about the lasting impact Alonzo made. Read his interview here.
Another trailblazer in the Central Florida community was Dr. Cleo Higgins, an English instructor at Bethune Cookman who received the Mary McLeod Bethune medallion in 1956. Dr. Higgins was a civil rights leader and was a national president for her sorority, Sigma Gamma Rho. Read about her here.
Black artists
Meet the artist behind several Orlando-area murals representing Black culture! Jordan Jones is an artist who has done work at the Orlando Parks and Recreation Building, in the My Brother’s Keeper office, on Parramore Avenue outside of a hair salon, and at a preschool on Bumby and Kaley Avenue! View his works and read his interview here.
On the stage, Keith Banks uses American Sign Language throughout the entirety of his performance in his show “Becoming Grandma Kat.” The show is about a social media influencer who has unknowingly become involved in a pyramid scheme and dresses up as an elderly deaf woman named Grandma Kat. Read about his inspiration here.
Thank you again to everyone who submitted their story ideas or feedback for Black History Month. Keep up the energy for Women’s History Month, which begins tomorrow! Feel free to contact me at bellis@wkmg.com or 407-521-1323 with any questions, comments, or ideas.