The first civil rights museum in the state of Florida and the nation’s first all-virtual civil rights museum came to life Thursday evening.
It was created by two Tallahassee natives, co-founders Jackie Perkins and Delaitre Hollinger.
The museum features pioneers from the early 1900s all the way into the ’60s. The first exhibit in the all-virtual exhibit is called “They Made a Difference,” which features over 30 pioneers who led the charge for civil rights for all Floridians.
Hollinger says it feels awesome because their goal was to bridge a gap.
“We’re bringing together stories and legacies of civil rights and educational pioneers under one umbrella so people can have a one-stop shop where they can go and learn about these people and contributions that they’ve made,” Hollinger said.
Hollinger is the primary founder of the museum and he has been working on this initiative since 2013. Perkins is the museum’s co-executive director.
“It’s huge and it feels really good that we finally got to this point where other people can use this virtual platform to get information on individuals, especially those who are educational and civil rights pioneers who are local, those who are in the state of Florida, those whose body of work and contributions and bold courageous actions resulted in transformational change for a lot of people,” Perkins said.
It is a diverse museum. It shows pioneers and educational figures from all walks of life based on the impact that they made for the state.
“We are making sure we include individuals regardless of race, color or creed,” said Perkins, a retired Florida A&M University internship coordinator who graduated from the university in 1979.
Numerous individuals who have yet to be recognized are featured in the museum. This is the only fully virtual museum in the United States, according to Hollinger, and it is a 3-D virtual tour. You can access the museum from anywhere in the country.
“We did not get funded and I think that was God’s way of saying I got something better for you. You’re not going to get any money, you’re not going to get a building, you’re going to have to get creative and that was getting a virtual platform,” Perkins said.
Florida A&M University student Tnisha Jones got a chance to tour the virtual platform on the launch day of the website. She says you get to witness history live from the comfort of your home.
“I absolutely loved the virtual museum. I think it allows people of all races, ages and demographics to access it,” Jones said. “I love how it creates a unique atmosphere.”
You can visit the new virtual museum at www.floridacivilrightsmuseum.org