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Representative Bruce Antone Says the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force was a Failure

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 27, 2024

CONTACT

Pamela Newton

Office of Representative Bruce Antone

[email protected]

407-297-2001

Representative Bruce Antone Says the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force was a Failure

 

ORLANDO, Fla. – Representative Bruce Antone (D-Orlando) sent a lengthy letter to the members of the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force. The letter discusses his concerns with the manner and process by which the Task Force conducted its business, and the proposed recommendations, that may be included in the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force Final Report. The final report, which will be sent to the Governor, and the Florida Legislature, will include recommendations regarding the design, construction and operation of a Black History Museum in Florida. Representative Antone respectfully asked the Task Force to not make any recommendations regarding the Florida Museum of Black History or a location for the proposed museum.

Representative Antone stated, “Senator Bobby Powell and myself passed CS/CS/HB 1441, with the intent of the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force developing design and construction plans to build a Very Large, World-Class Florida Museum of Black History. The proposed Florida Museum of Black History was extremely important to the State of Florida, Black Americans and Caribbean Immigrants in Florida, and was intended to showcase the contributions Black People and Caribbean Immigrants have made to the history of Florida and the United States. The Task Force met nine times and did not complete any of the tasks required by the legislation (i.e. CS/CS/HB 1441), which created the Task Force. Therefore, I respectfully ask the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force to not make any recommendations to the Governor, and the Florida Legislature.”

The bill (i.e. CS/CS/HB 1441 [2023]) required the task force to develop:

  1. Plans for the location, design, and construction of the museum.
  2. Recommendations for the operation and administration of the museum.
  3. A marketing plan to promote the museum.
  4. A transition plan for the museum to become financially self-sufficient.
  5. Recommendations for archival and artifact acquisition, preservation, and research; exhibits; and educational materials.”

“Finally, the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force should quietly end and disband tomorrow (i.e. Friday June 28th ) without making any recommendations. People across the State of Florida and the United States, especially Black People and Caribbean Immigrants, were excitedly watching the meetings of the Florida Museum of Black History Task Force with high hopes and anticipation that Florida would build a Large World Class Black History Museum. The Task Force failed to complete the tasks required by the legislation which created the Task Force,” added Representative Antone.

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