Oscar Mack

Have you heard the name Oscar Mack? If you follow my work at all, you may recall that I started a project way back in 2013 that uncovered the complex tale of African American veteran named Oscar Mack. This was a critical making digital history project that source to recover the history of behind the reported lynching in Kissimmee, Florida on July 16, 1922. Seeking to highlight the black political culture historian Paul Ortiz has described as resisting oppression through institutions and actions, this student-centered community engagement project sought to shed light on a forgotten event.

Working closely with Curtis Michelson, a former member of Democracy Forum, a local civil rights community group that had worked to uncover the history of anti-black violence in Ocoee, Florida, my students discovered new details about the threat that led to the lynching, Mack, and social context of the moment. Since the project finished, I’ve worked closely with the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program at the University of Florida to collect oral history and complete the story. We managed to connect with the family and one goal was working on documentary project you see below.

This teaser for the documentary we were working on before COVID captures the beginning of what I think will be a truly informative project. Still, with the anniversary upon us, I’ve wondered is there more I can do. The answer is yes, there is more.

Stay Tuned!