The Florida Highwaymen

I met a Highway Man.  I met Al Black.

The Florida Highwaymen, a group of 26 African-Americans, broke convention to paint beautiful iconic landscapes. Originating in the mid 1950's, an era marked by racism and poverty, these self-taught entrepreneurs mentored each other while they painted on basic materials.

Of the twenty six early painters, nine are considered "original" Highwaymen: Harold Newton, Alfred Hair, Roy McLendon, James Gibson, Livingston Roberts, Mary Ann Carroll, Sam Newton, Willie Daniels, and Al Black.

In 2008, a second hour-long PBS-TV documentary film was released called "The Highwaymen: Legends of the Road". It was produced by father and son team Jack and John Hambrick (both veteran TV news journalists). The original, titled "The Highwaymen: Florida's Outsider Artists" premiered at the Appleton Museum in Ocala in 2003 and was picked up by PBS. It generally airs during Black History month. Narrated by Spencer Christian, the Hambrick team was responsible for this one as well and the second, more commercial oriented documentary.

Fort Pierce Fl @ 3rd and Orange.

Mr. Al Black, one of the original Highwaymen

This week I'll be in Manhattan, NY, working for ETS.