Celebrating Resilience: The History of May Day in Florida's Black Communities

In this powerful blend of personal memoir and cultural history, May Day in Crestview invites readers into the heart of a Florida tradition that has shaped generations. Born and raised in Crestview, author Linda Brown weaves together stories of community, celebration, and struggle-anchored by the legacy of the Carver-Hill School and the enduring spirit of May Day in Florida's Black communities.

With reverence and warmth, the author reflects on a childhood shaped by the strength of his mother, Inez Rupert Brown, who raised six children and instilled in them a deep love for history and education. Her influence, along with the guidance of local heroes like Caroline Baker Allen and Samuel Alphonse Allen Sr., laid the foundation for a lifelong passion to preserve the past and celebrate the people who lived it.

From the roots of May Day in global labor movements to its vibrant expression in the streets of Crestview-through music, dance, storytelling, and community pride-this book explores how a once-overlooked holiday became a sacred cultural tradition. It honors not only the resilience of Black Floridians but also the legacy of teachers, elders, and families who made sure the stories would never be forgotten.

May Day in Crestview is a moving tribute to the power of memory, a celebration of identity, and a call to carry forward the lessons of the past with purpose and pride.