Beginning in the 1930s, African Americans in Florida united music and politics on the "Chitlin' Circuit," a network of bars, clubs, and dance halls that entertainers used to tour the South. While the Circuit ushered numerous stars to fame, including Ray Charles, James Brown, Bo Diddley, and Sam Cooke, it was also a network of "covert" or "safe" social spaces for African Americans living in the segregated South. This exhibit uncovers the Circuit in Florida from 1935 to 1970.
Featured Item
Cab Calloway Performing at the Clover Club in Miami
Internationally renowned performers toured the Circuit from the 1930s until the 1970s. Clubs in the Jim Crow South often catered to diverse audiences…