Interview April 2014
Dr. Dorothy Jenkins Fields, PhD --
Lyric Theater Miami Renaissance

Jay -- Of all of your educational accomplishments, which are you the most proud?

Dr. Fields -- The answer is in three phases from 1974 until 2014:

FIRST; in 1974 I conceived the idea of a Black Archives in Miami, to collect primary sources for us to record and write our history ourselves. In 1977 I attended Emory University for graduate studies earning certification in Archives Administration and training in Historic Preservation. As a part of the certification program I developed the plan for establishing The Black Archives, History and Research Foundation of South Florida. It was incorporated with a community Board of Directors in 1977,

SECOND; saving the Lyric Theater from the wrecking ball then acquiring City of Miami, State of Florida and Miami-Dade County funds to purchase and restore the theater and build an adjacent Welcome Center, establishing Miami-Dade County′s Black Heritage Trail and the Historic Overtown Folklife Village, and

THIRD; acquiring $10million dollars from Miami-Dade County bond to expand the stage, add dressing rooms and upgrade the lighting in the theater and to relocate The Black Archives collection and headquarters to a site adjacent to the theater.

Jay -- Are your immediate family members into Black/African-American History?

Dr. Fields -- I am the proud mother of two daughters, Katherine Fields Marsh and Edda Fields-Black. Katherine is an attorney and her husband, Marcus Marsh, is an accountant. Edda, a historian, is a college professor and author of the book, Deep Roots: Rice Farmers in West Africa and the African Diaspora. Her husband, Samuel W. Black, a curator, is president of the Association of African American Museums. They have two children who are my wonderful grandchildren.

Jay -- At what point in your life will you pass the torch to the next generation?

Dr. Fields -- Our current Executive Director, Timothy A. Barber -- a graduate of Miami Central High School and Florida A&M University -- began as an archives intern in 2003. Now a certified archivist, historian and curator, he became the overseer of the construction of The Historic Lyric Theater Black Archives Welcome Center Complex. He is responsible for the operations, administration and programming of this premiere cultural institution.



Jay -- You marched with Dr. King in 1960 in Atlanta. What stands out in your mind about this historic event?

Dr. Fields -- It was Dr. King′s practice of non-violence that we followed. The experience is well documented by a classmate, Dr. Georgianne Thomas, Spelman Class of 1964. She created, and her daughter Rev. Alvelyn Sanders wrote, produced and directed the independent documentary chronicling our class participation in the movement, ″Foot Soldiers: Class of 1964- An Atlanta Story That Changed The World,″ www.footsoldiers1964.com.

Jay -- Whom or what was your first inspiration in pursing black history?

Dr. Fields -- In 1974 I was a school librarian and reading teacher in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools at a then all white school preparing for the 1976 Bi-Centennial, the celebration of the 200th birthday of the USA. I wanted local books written by black people. As was my custom, I called the main library in downtown Miami to ask that they pull 15 or 20 books for me to check out. The librarian asked me to hold the phone while she checked to see what was available. She returned to the phone and said, ″We only have a folder with clippings about black people, I guess those people have not thought enough of themselves to write their history.″ I was stunned at her answer and my journey began to show that we care.

Jay -- Do you think that young (K-12) black students are getting enough history in school?

Dr. Fields -- No, but I do not believe that teaching black children should be left to the schools. Parents and the community including churches, civic and social groups must accept responsibility, too. Students should be encouraged to participate in programs such as the NAACP′s Act-So.

Jay -- Is the Lyric Theater the only nationally designated landmark in Miami with a connection to the black community?

Dr. Fields -- No, as a result of my historical research several buildings are listed locally and six on the U. S. Secretary of Interior′s National Register of Historic Places including: Lyric Theater, Dorsey House, Greater Bethel AME Church, Mt. Zion Baptist Church, and St. John Institutional Baptist Church. The ″Cola Nip,″ J & S building was demolished. The City of Miami was incorporated in 1896, the same year several Overtown church congregations were organized.