An Oral History Project Conducted by John Robert Lewis Scholar Travis Waters
Project Description
Nestled a couple of miles north of Mickey Mouse's Magic Kingdom in Florida is South Apopka, a predominantly Black community of approximately 7,000 residents. While most kingdoms and castles are surrounded by moats and lush landscapes, South Apopka is surrounded by overflowing landfills and sewer treatment facilities that emit putrid smells—facilities that the more affluent neighborhood across the tracks, known as the City of Apopka, chose to place in this community. South Apopka residents, including my family, were primarily responsible for putting the City of Apopka on the map as an agricultural power. They toiled in the scorching hot Florida sun in Orange groves to achieve this. Now, decades later after the days of sharecropping and Jim Crow segregation, Black Apopkans are now demanding their fair share from the City while contending with gentrification and ongoing lack of opportunity. This oral history project recounts my conversation with Ms. Francina Boykin, a local historian and family member, about Apopka's history and its current crossroads.
Presentation Recording