Up From Incarceration
Volume 1: Dispelling Myths of the Thug Life
When a young man grows up with advantages – a good home, good parents, and educational opportunities – the last thing one would expect him to do is to embrace the thug life. That’s exactly what Dr. Anthony Dixon did. During his years as a student at Florida A&M University, he straddled two worlds: the world of academia and the world of the streets. The streets would eventually lead him to a place he didn’t want to be.
Dixon went straight from obtaining a university degree to state prison, where he spent five-and-a-half years examining his life. And what faith and introspection taught him, took him all the way to the hallowed halls of Indiana University – where he earned a Ph.D.
Written in a gritty, compelling voice, this cautionary tale boldly crosses class lines, appealing to teens and adults alike. His story will change the way you think about the life choices you make.
Florida’s Negro War
Black Seminoles and the Second Seminole War 1835–1842
From 1817 to 1858, the United States government engaged in a bitter conflict with the Seminole Nation. This conflict would result in three distinct wars. The Second Seminole War (1835-1842) was conducted under the Indian Removal Policy of the 1830’s. This war was a result of the American plantation societies’ relentless efforts to enslave the Black Seminole population.
The United States government’s objective became to return as many Black Seminoles, if not all, to slavery. Evidence proves that the efforts of the U.S. military to place Blacks in bondage were not only a major underlying theme throughout the War, but at various points, the primary goal. It is clear that from the onset of the war, the United States government, military, and state militias grossly underestimated both the determination and the willingness of the Black Seminole to resist at all cost. Thus, this book will not only make the argument that the Second Seminole War was indeed a slave rebellion, but perhaps the most successful one in United States’ history.
Timeline of the African Diaspora Experience
Florida has a relationship with African descendants unlike any other state. Early Spanish inhabitants believed that it reminded Africans of their homeland. From its earliest beginnings, it became a place for African descendants to come to create a better existence for themselves and their kin. By providing a safe haven for runaway slaves from English Plantation society, Florida became the first destination for the Underground Railroad. Beginning in the late 19th century, numbers of Afro-Caribbean peoples began to come to Florida seeking opportunities that they may not otherwise have. This migration continues today.
The Florida African Diaspora Timeline highlights those main events that occurred within this special relationship. It chronologically takes readers through a journey while forecasting the path for the Diaspora in the future.