As a multicultural country, America has numerous neighborhoods in cities established by single ethnic groups scattered around the country. Such neighborhoods are often dominated by minority groups such as African Americans, Spanish-Americans, and Asian Americans. In Miami, for instance, there are numerous neighborhoods dominated by African Americans, including Liberty City, Little Haiti, Allapattah, and Little Havana, to name a few. While conducting a research assignment as an undergraduate researcher at the University of Miami, I embarked on a project focused on ethnographic research concerning Overtown, a black community neighborhood. Overtown, among many other neighborhoods, has a deep history that can help shape the future of neighborhoods across the country by addressing the challenges and acknowledging the past experiences of those living in such neighborhoods. Thus, it is vital to give an account of my observations, my experience, and the neighborhood’s history based on my visit to the Overtime Neighbourhood.
As I set foot in Overtown, I began to immediately compare the old history of the neighborhood and the forces that have shaped the disheartened current state of the neighborhood. The activity levels of people running through their day-to-day lives were a constant bustle of street activity. As the vivid colors of the murals decorated the streets, these were the lively aspects of the neighborhood, representing its artistic nature and cultural heritage. Walking the streets, many businesses lined up to serve the people, from soul food restaurants to barbershops and community centers. Here is where Overtown residents meet people from local clubs, taking every moment in meeting points where people gather to catch a feeling of interest and life. Conversations were made in a mix of Haitian Creole, Spanish, and English, with all languages being as tightly woven together as the people of the Overtown community. This blend of languages worldwide promoted unity and mutual understanding among all Overtown residents, regardless of their background and origin. Also, the smell of Caribbean cooking hung in the air from vendor stalls and the street to passersby, offering a temptation of luscious delights to treat the eye and the stomach (Tierney, 2002). The neighborhood also has its share of the neglected and disinvested, conjuring a past of dilapidated buildings and vacant lots that provide a battleground for economic opportunity and social equality. However, in the thick of it all, through such challenges, I witnessed the resilience and strength among Overtown’s residents as they fought for justice and empowerment while defending their hometown at all costs.
Through adversity, I observed the inexpressible spirit of the Overtown residents, showing the human side of Overtown and the true potential of their true worth (Price, 2007). Each of these people in Overtown, together with those at the grassroots level, knows that day by day, they need to solve tangible issues affecting their neighborhood, starting from a lack of affordable housing to the poor healthcare services they receive from the neighborhood hospital. I found myself experiencing nostalgia by imagining the good times of Overtown when people lived strong-willed lives, and their sense of community and perseverance never got lost in the face of their adversities. From neighborhood clean-ups to educational and social justice advocacy, Overtown has dedicated time and commitment to building a robust and resilient community (Tierney, 2002). Overall, Overtown was a profound and lasting experience of determination and strength among the residents, combined with a vibrant tapestry of cultural experiences that make Overtown in the Miami landscape like nothing else one may come across (Price, 2007). Ironically, Overtown continues to be an outpost of community and artistic expression, with a history marked by systemic challenges and historical injustices. The bonds of solidarity and mutual support among its residents not only awed me but also stirred me, inspiring a sense of hope regarding the future of this historic neighborhood. The story of Overtown stands as a reminder of the power of resilience in community and action, which could be a force more potent than any adversity faced. Moreover, Overtown represents how far the black community has pursued equality and justice for all.
The historical account of Overtown could be the best way to understand how the neighborhood got to its contemporary, modern reality. The thriving black community was formed in the previous century, while, under the policy of segregation, it blossomed like a cultural core. Great musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington also performed in some native spots of the Overtown locality, thereby starting the trend of Overtown being known as “Black Harlem within the South.” In fact, in the 1960s, Overtown emerged as a business area, with busy businesses, lively churches, and keen interest from community members. The prosperity the neighborhood enjoyed over the years was immediately cut short following the construction of the interstate highway system that began after the 1960s. In the 1960s, construction on Interstate 95 began, and with it, it plowed through Overtown, smashing over a thousand buildings and displacing thousands of people (Galli, 2023). Decades of urban renewal and neglect that followed the highway construction have made things worse for Overtown, leaving a legacy of abject poverty and social dislocation. The interstate highway system not only physically separated the community but also separated them further regarding economic opportunities, educational institutions, and socialization (Galli, 2023).
As a result, Overtown experienced a decline in population, economic activity, and overall quality of life. However, through these challenges, Overtown has proven to be resilient. With the help of residents and activist community leaders, there have been doubled efforts to keep the spirit of the neighborhood alive, driven by the prospects of building a better life for people in the place. Various grassroots organizations and agencies have been mobilizing and mounting pressure on local, state, and federal governments to invest more in affordable housing, community-based job training programs for the unemployed, and infrastructure improvement (Cure & Penabad, 2023). Still, other activists, such as the members of Overtown Music and Arts Festival, seek to foster economic development and community involvement in the ongoing support and showcasing of the cultural production of the area. As Overtown struggles to rise above its polluted past and against the system with built-in systemic barriers, the many residents often come together in the clasp of community support (Galli, 2023). In the sweat of collective action and the grit of determination, Overtown has begun to revive a well-deserved source of ostentation in its revival state.
In conclusion, my visit to Overtown gave me a profound understanding of black heritage and their struggles that never seemed to end. The visit sheds light on Overtown’s contribution to American art. The Overtown story reminds us of the black community’s resilience in light of its challenges. Overtown had survived and burgeoned in a manner that genuinely scouts resilience, with the idea that pride and the notion of culture can overpower any negativity (Cure & Penabad, 2023). This Overtown story further creates the obligation for all of us to provide support that would make it possible to uproot the inequalities in the system and invest in the renovation and preservation of neighborhoods such as Overtown so that their histories and contributions will be further supported.
Cure, A., & Penabad, C. (2023). Cross-cultural urbanism: the case of Miami. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 46(11), 2510–2528.
Galli, G. (2023). Breaking the Heart of Black Miami: How the Construction of Interstate 95 Expedited the Decline of Overtown. Available at SSRN 4619261.
Price, L. J. (2007). Carrying out a structured observation. Doing Cultural Anthropology: Prospects for Ethnographic Data Collection.
Tierney, G. (2002). Become a participant observer. Doing cultural anthropology: Projects for ethnographic data collection, pp. 9–18.