Black Communities in Transition

Black Communities in Transition: Voices From South Florida is a historically based sociological study of the black communities in south Florida, with an emphasis on Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The first section, detailing the history of the black communities, begins with an emphasis on the 1890s as Southern and Bahamian blacks moved to the area, primarily to work in construction, railroad projects, and the small tourist industry. In tracing the black communities' growth to the present, the book shows how the black communities have compared to the larger communities in the last one hundred years. The second section analyzes specific issues in these communities: conflict between U.S.born and Caribbean blacks; economic, religious, educational, and cultural problems and accomplishments; the black communities' response to crime; and the diverse strategies to increase black political influence. The book concludes with an analysis of self-images of blacks and discussions about hope for the future.