The Greatest Palm Beach: Railroads, Hotels, and the Styx (1890-1910)

This presentation is about African American life in West Palm Beach during the early twentieth century. Presenter Jermaine Scott will highlight the role of Henry Flagler and the African American workers that constructed his railroads and hotels in Palm Beach. More importantly, he will discuss the significance of “the Styx”, one of the earliest African American settlements in West Palm Beach which housed nearly 500 African Americans. During this period, the city of West Palm Beach was constantly concerned with the sanitary conditions of the Styx and advocated for its complete removal. This presentation argues that African American life was vital to the creation and sustainability of West Palm Beach.

Biography of Jermaine Scott: Scott is an Assistant Professor of African American and Sports History at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). He is currently working on a book with Columbia University Press, called “Black Soccer: Football and Politics in the African Diaspora”, which seeks to understand how Black footballers challenged racist structures in the modern game while renegotiating the relationship between blackness and the nation. His writings have been included in ESPN’s The Undefeated, the Journal of African American History and the Journal of Sports History. Jermaine teaches courses on African American and African Diaspora History and Sports History.

Cost:

OLLI FAU Member - $30 or $100 for any combination of four FAU Lecture Series events. Bundle purchases are non-refundable.

Non-Member and Guest - $35