When you think of the Deep South, Miami isn’t always the first place that comes to mind. Known today for its beaches, nightlife, and vibrant Latin American influences, Miami’s reputation often overshadows its history as a Southern city that was deeply entrenched in segregation. But Miami was very much part of the Jim Crow South in the 20th century, with all the hallmarks of racial injustice — segregated schools, neighborhoods, and businesses, voter suppression, and rampant discrimination in employment and policing.
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Although Miami shared the rest of the South’s racial inequity, it had a thriving Black community, complete with its own Black-led community police force. The Black Police Precinct, which opened in 1944 and operated until its closure in 1963, was the only one of its kind in the United States, existing as both a response to exclusion and a testament to the resilience of Miami’s Black community. Today, it functions as a museum, preserving the complex history of Black law enforcement, and highlighting an era when Black officers served their community amid segregation.
A space born from segregation and necessity
During the early 20th century, Black Miamians primarily lived in Colored Town, later known as Overtown, one of the only areas where Black residents were allowed to live. Redlining and restrictive housing covenants kept Black families from moving into white neighborhoods, while discriminatory laws limited economic opportunities. Despite these challenges, Overtown thrived as a cultural and economic hub, home to Black-owned businesses, churches, and entertainment venues that hosted legends like Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald.
But being an economic center didn’t shield Overtown from the harsh realities of segregation. Black Miamians were frequently subjected to police violence, and law enforcement often reinforced racial boundaries rather than protect all citizens equally. Additionally, Black citizens were also left unprotected from crime in their own neighborhoods. In response to growing demands for safety and self-governance, Miami officials established the Black Police Precinct and Courthouse in 1944, hiring the city’s first Black officers.
Miami’s Black police officers had to follow a different set of rules. They were restricted to policing only Black neighborhoods and were not allowed to arrest white citizens. Black officers were also not permitted to refer to themselves as policemen, but rather as patrolmen.
The courthouse within the precinct also played a pivotal role in Black Miami’s justice system. In its first year alone, it processed hundreds of cases, offering Black citizens a legal space where they could seek justice without the immediate racial bias present in white-dominated courtrooms. It was here that Miami’s first Black judge, Lawson E. Thomas, made history. Appointed in 1950, Judge Thomas presided over cases that were previously handled by white judges who often disregarded the rights of Black defendants. His courtroom provided a rare opportunity for Black citizens to receive fair legal proceedings, marking a significant step forward in racial justice.
