In 2013, Derek Boyd Hankerson whose family is native to St. Augustine suggested to the St. Augustine City Commission that the City of St. Augustine for its 450th Anniversary share the whole 450 years of continuous African American history.

The reason was to educate and share how St. Augustine became the boiling point of the civil rights movement and how the events that occurred in St. Augustine moved President Johnson to sign the civil rights act of 1964.

The city of St. Augustine agreed with Mr. Hankerson and created an exhibit that was displayed in the City of St. Augustine’s Visitor Center from January 2014-July 2014.

The film which will be show at The Sunrise Theatre accompanied the exhibit and highlights Florida’s role in the passage of the 1964, Civil Rights Act and includes Dr. Martin Luther King, Ambassador Andrew Young and Dr. Robert Hayling.

The film is narrated by the late Andre Braugher.