The Black History Learning Tree: The 1980 Miami Riot
May 17, 2025
From: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Engage in an afternoon of learning and civic reflection centered on one of Miami’s pivotal moments in civil rights history.
On Saturday, May 17, The Miami Riot of 1980: Black History Learning Tree, led by historian and educator Dr. Marvin Dunn, will take place outside the FIU Green Library at the Modesto A. Maidique Campus. This open-air lecture is part of Dr. Dunn’s ongoing Black History Learning Tree series, which brings historical education into public spaces in response to restrictions on classroom teaching about race and Black history in Florida.
The event begins with a 2:00 p.m. gathering near the library’s main entrance, offering participants an opportunity to express their support for inclusive historical education. At 3:00 p.m., Dr. Dunn will lead a two-hour session focusing on the events and aftermath of the 1980 uprising in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood—an episode sparked by systemic injustice and police brutality, and a significant chapter in the city’s racial history.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a seat, towel or blanket for comfort, and signs are welcome. The event is supported by 50501 Miami.