Overtown, Miami, 1956

Excerpt of color home movies of the Overtown area in Miami during 1956. The original film has more vibrant color. This silent film is owned by the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives.

[@nativetexanful]

It sure looks peaceful and safe. I wish I could have lived in those days.

[@neosoul7422]

Look how beautiful they are. This is my hometown 🥰

[@wogahboy]

Look at all these beautiful black people......what happened?

[@neosoul7422]

Drugs. Drugs. Highway crap destroyed Colortown

[@wogahboy]

@Johnny Morphine I have to agree.

[@germanirish2]

People wearing nice clothes, being respectful of others. A nicer time looks like. A more civilized time perhaps eh? Good for them....PS, old guy here who lived in these times right here in So. Florida....Pepperidge Farm remembers..

[@jimmyhd1969]

Overtown was mostly destroyed in the early 1960s with the construction of the dolphin freeway and the midtown interchange right through the area.

[@SpfySpaceJam]

Yep that's how most wealthy black towns are ruined.. by hwys

[@neosoul7422]

Exactly

[@latishaconey5883]

Facts

[@Nolllag]

Beautiful

[@godchosenson5891]

How I wish that our Historical Overtown residents who don't know about its RICH History would seek it out. It's called HISTORICAL OVERTOWN for a reason! I imagine often ppl saying they're from historical overtown than overtown! ❤️Overtown.

[@nookguy4318]

And thats the part of FL that dont get talked about. Yes FL had jim crow just like the rest of the south but to knowledge FL was the the only southern state where alot blacks built their own cities and did not need to go out and deal with the segragation rules. Fl had alot of these african american cities through out the state and blacks were doing awsome unlike alot of other southrern states. Intergration and building highways in the cities actually hurt the commuinties. But that side of FL dont get much light to it.

[@priscillalowe3758]

Very Beautiful

[@rebeccatynes6044]

Look how beautiful Overtown was back in the day's what a joy it was

[@outlawsgta]

In my opinion it’s still a beautiful place in its own way.

[@neosoul7422]

Exciting to see

[@mahoganyhaynes4330]

'they' didn't want to see them happy and doing good for themselves, so that's why 'they' put drugs and violence into over town, not no hip hop.

[@leversforever9748]

that's just dumb to blame others!!

[@josejones3312]

@@leversforever9748 sometimes you can't help but to because people do ruin things for others in life. If a guy came in and robbed your house while you was gone door locked and everything who can blame? The dude that robbed you right. When the government built that highway through this area it broke the togetherness and guidance in overtown. Not just here same as all over America.

[@AlexRomero-vb2qg]

For all you blaming hip hop is not blame the gi bill and building of bridges hip hop was born from all that crime and poverty it was an effect of the 70s and 80s crack epidemic not a cause

[@neverhungryagain2187]

true

[@305grant8]

Wtf!! Looks like Pleasantville

[@mrniceguy7168]

People had standards back then

[@GTSCoupe]

Broke mofos ruin everything.

[@1991araaron]

Thanks hip hop

[@synergymedia2009]

Hi Aaron, Overtown was a great and cohesive community until the State and City government decided to put an highway through the middle of the community. A lot of houses got razed and split the community.

[@SABBSubmit]

@amenselah