Brevard’s Harry and Harriette Moore Amongst First Activists of the Trendy Civil Rights Period in Florida

By Last updated Feb 22, 2021

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

HARRY T. AND HARRIETTE V. MOORE were leading civil rights activists in Florida and the nation during the 1930s and 1940s. On Christmas night 1951, Moore’s 25th wedding anniversary, they were killed when a bomb exploded under their home in Mims. (Image from the Florida State Archives)

BREVARD COUNTY, MIMS, FLORIDA – Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore were leading civil rights activists in Florida and the nation in the 1930s and 40s.

The couple was a professional educator and lived in Mims, Florida, a small citrus town at the time, and taught at separate public schools in and around Brevard County from 1925 to 1946.

The Moores were among the first true civil rights activists of the modern Florida civil rights era. On Christmas night 1951, Moore’s 25th wedding anniversary, a bomb exploded under her home in Mims, killing Harry Moore and fatally injuring Harriette Moore.

Harry died on the way to the hospital and Harriette died on January 3, 1952, two days after Harry’s funeral.

It was the first assassination of a prominent civil rights leader and it is believed that this was the spark that ignited the American civil rights movement.

During their lifetime, the Moores were concerned parents and educators, and became leading local and national civil rights advocates.

Harry Moore organized the first Brevard County branch of the NAACP in 1934. He organized this branch, which initially focused on social and educational activities. This increased the visibility of the NAACP without deterring local blacks or disturbing whites.

In 1941 he founded the Florida State Conference of the NAACP, which served as president and later became its first paid executive secretary. They were instrumental in the NAACP and the fight for equality and justice until their untimely death.

In 1944, Harry. Moore was a co-founder of the Progressive Voting League, and through that organization’s efforts, over 116,000 black citizens have been registered to vote.

A replica of their home now stands in place of the original home. The interior looks exactly like it did on that tragic day of the bombing.

The site of the Moore family’s original residence was purchased by Brevard County in 1994, and the cultural center opened in April 2004.

DAILY TOURS are offered at the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Complex in the replica home on 2180 Freedom Avenue. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

The Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex, Inc., was organized in 2002 as a non-profit support organization for the park. Through their efforts, the Florida State Department, Department of Cultural Affairs, awarded $ 100,000 in grants to help build the replica home.

The Florida Department of State Bureau of Historic Preservation received a $ 500,000 grant for the reflective pool, fountain, meditation garden and pavilion, Heritage Walking Trail, and community pavilion.

In 2007 the Florida Humanities Council recognized Harry T. Moore as one of the Great Floridians and ribbon cutting ceremonies were held: Home Replica November 22, 2009; Reflective pool, fountain, meditation garden and pavilion August 20, 2011; Community Pavilion / Heritage Hiking Trail and inauguration of part of Highway 46 as the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Memorial Highway by an act of the Florida Legislature August 24, 2012.

In 2013, the Cocoa Village Post Office was renamed Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Post Office.

In 2013, Moore family artifacts were moved to the Smithsonian Museum to become part of Harry T. Moore’s new exhibit on display at the new Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture.

The moors were inducted into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame in Tallahassee.

Tours are offered daily at the replica complex at 2180 Freedom Avenue. Each tour lasts approximately 45 minutes.

For more information, please visit HarryHarrietteMoore.org or call 321-264-6595.