Rosewood Florida Historical Marker

ROSEWOOD,  FLORIDA

Racial violence erupted in the small and quiet Rosewood community January 1-7, 1923. Rosewood, a predominantly colored community, was home to the Bradley, Carrier, Carter, Goins, and Hall families, among others. Residence supported a school taught by Maholds "Gussie" Brown Carrier, three churches, and a Masonic lodge. Many of them owned their homes, some were business owners, and others worked in nearby Sumner and at the, Cummer Lumber Mill. This quiet life came to the end on January 1, 1923, when a white Sumner women accused a black man of assaulting her. In the search for her alleged attacker, white terrorized and killed Rosewood residence. In the days of fear and violence that followed, many Rosewood citizen sought refuge in the nearby woods. White merchants John M. Wright and other courageous whites sheltered some of the fleeing men, women and children. Whites burned Rosewood and looted livestock and property; two were killed while taking it home. Five blacks also lost their lives: Sam Carter, who was tortured for information and shot to death on January 1; Sarah Carrier; Lexie Gordon; James Carrier; and Mingo Williams. Those who survived were forever scarred.

A Florida Heritage Landmark
sponsored by the real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
and the Florida Department of State

ROSEWOOD,  FLORIDA

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Haunted by what happened. Rosewood residence took a bow of Silence, lived in fear and never return to claim their property. That silence was broken seventy-one years later. In 1994 survivors including Minnie Lee Langley, Arnett Turner Goins, and Wilson Hall, filled a claims bill in Florida's Legislature. A Special Master, an expert appointed by the Speaker of the House, ruled that the state had a "moral obligation" to compensate survivors for their loss of property, violations of constitutional rights, and mental anguish. On May 4, 1994, Governor Lawton Chiles signed a $2.1 million ompensation bill. None survivors received $150,000 each for mental anguish, and a state university scholarship fund was established for the families of Rosewood and their descendants. A fund was also established to compensate those Rosewood families who could demonstrate property loss. This Historical Marker was dedicated by Governor Jeb Bush in May, 2004.

A Florida Heritage Landmark
sponsored by the real Rosewood Foundation, Inc.
and the Florida Department of State