Local Author Writes Florida’s First-ever Emancipation Day Children’s Book

MARIANNA, Fla. (WMBB) – Community leader Byron Dickens decided to write a children’s book called “May Day and Me! to help educate children, and even adults, on Florida Emancipation Day.

Juneteenth is more widely known as Emancipation Day, but Florida Day is May 20, 1865. Both days have the same main celebration.

Dickens said he remembered celebrating May 1 growing up, but said he felt the festivities surrounding Florida’s Emancipation Day had died down – which is why he decided to ” write his book, “ May Day and Me ”.

“With my kids, I wanted to find something to keep them captivated and learn something too,” Dickens said.

Dickens said he believed learning the history of our state and our nation would unite us all.

“When I look at history in general, it’s Crispus Attucks or whether it’s Paul Revere, whether it’s Emancipation or Independence Day, it plays a big part in what we celebrate as Earth. of the free, the home of the brave, ”said Dickens.

Marianna Mayor, Travis Ephriam, said her children have the book. He said he liked how the book made it easy for children to understand Emancipation Day.

“It helps expose the reason we celebrate it,” Ephriam said. “How Florida is different from Texas, how the Emancipation Proclamation and the lack of technology took some time for word of mouth to literally be hand and footed in different communities and celebrated even though it was was late to some extent – May 20 is the day word reached us.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, click here.