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Liberty City is a neighborhood within the City of Miami, Florida, United States. It is listed as "Model City" on many Miami websites; however, the name is rarely, if ever, used by anyone, especially local residents and South Floridians.^[1]

The area houses more than half of Miami-Dade County's nearly half a million African Americans and Afro-West Indians (as of 2000^[update] Census). Liberty City's boundaries are roughly as follows: North 79th Street to the North, North 27th Avenue (Unity Boulevard) to the West, North 41st Street to the South, and Interstate 95 to the East.^[2]

Demographics

In 2000, Liberty City had a population of 23,009^[3] and 43,054^[4] residents, with 7,772 households, and 5,428 families residing in the neighborhood. The median household income was $18,809.87. The racial makeup of the neighborhood was 3.04% Hispanic or Latino of any nationality, 94.69% Black, 0.59% White, and 1.68% Other races (non-Hispanic).^[3]

The zip codes for the Liberty City include 33127, 33142, 33147, and 33150. The area covers 5.968 square miles. In 2000, there were 19,286 males and 23,768 females. The median age for males was 25.9 years, while the median age for females was 30.3 years. The average household size had 3.1 people, while the average family size had 3.7 members. The percentage of married-couple families (among all households) was 20.3%, while the percentage of married-couple families with children (among all households) was 9.1%, and the percentage of single-mother households (among all households) was 33.1%. The percentage of never-married males 15 years old and over was 21.9%, while the percentage of never-married females 15 years old and over was 29.7%.^[4]

In 2000, the percentage of people that spoke English not well or not at all was 2.7% of the population. The percentage of residents born in Florida was 74.5%, the percentage of people born in another U.S. state was 16.7%, and the percentage of native residents but born outside the U.S. was 0.8%, while the percentage of foreign born residents was 7.9%.^[4]

History

Liberty City is named for the Liberty Square Housing Project built in the late 1930s for Miami's low-income African-Americans, the second of its kind in the South at the time.

Liberty City is home to Miami Northwestern High School which has had a student population of more than 2250 students the past four years with more than 90% African-American and 6% Hispanic. Liberty City also produced the Miami Heat's Udonis Haslem, Houston Texan's Wide Receiver Darnell Jenkins, University of Miami Starting Quarterback Jacory Harris, and professional wrestler Alvin Burke, Jr. (better known by his stage name MVP). Darlyne Chauve's art studio and gallery is in Liberty City. Liberty City has produced many of Miami's rap stars.

Known for its contributions to black politics championed by former black congressperson Carrie P. Meek the area now has its own Miami-Dade College campus. The college is called the Miami-Dade College EEC, short for the Entrepreneurial Educational Center. The campus has attracted top-notch faculty—including attorneys, scientists, and scholars—whose mission is to level the playing field in this inner city locale. Special credit goes to EEC Librarian Theodore D. Karantsalis who has developed what is considered to be the finest collection of black literature in the area.

Liberty City is also the location of New Covenant Presbyterian Church of Miami, which was the first Christian congregation of a main-line denomination to be organized for the specific purpose of being an integrated congregation.

In 1980, the infamous Liberty City Riots broke out after an unpopular verdict in a 1979 case of white-on-black police brutality. The acquittal of five white police officers that beat a black motorist to death sparked the violence. By the time the rioting ceased the following morning, over 850 people had been arrested and 18 people lost their lives, including eight whites and ten blacks.

Police officers had pursued motorcyclist Arthur McDuffie in a high-speed chase. The officers claimed that the chase ended when McDuffie crashed his motorcycle and died. The coroner's report concluded otherwise. One of the officers testified that McDuffie fell off of his bike on a I-95 off ramp. When the police reached him he was injured but ok. The officers removed his helmet, beat him to death with their batons, put his helmet back on, and called an ambulance, claiming there had been a motorcycle accident. These actions were later admitted to by one of the officers while on trial. An all-white jury acquitted the officers after brief deliberation.

Liberty City was the focal point of the infamous drug wars of 1998, where Anthony Fail feuded with fellow John Does gang members. This feud began when the leader Corey Smith was taken down by Miami Police, which Fail saw as an opportunity to take control of the gang and reclaim revenue from drug sales.

Liberty City is also home to the Miami Workers Center. A strategy and organizing center for low-income communities and low-wage workers in Miami-Dade County. Initiated in March 1999, the Center’s mission is to work to end poverty and oppression. The Center’s most significant achievement has been the initiation and development of Low Income Families Fighting Together (LIFFT)—a grassroots membership organization of and for current and former welfare recipients, low-wage workers, and public housing residents that has become a growing force in Miami-Dade County. In these efforts the Miami Workers’ Center joins arms with South Florida’s low-income people to address issues of poverty and limited opportunity. Liberty City is a notoriously dangerous section of Miami, as several mass shootings have taken place recently and often.

Notable residents

• Alvin Burke, Jr. (known in professional wrestling as Montel Vontavious Porter or MVP)
• Luther Campbell (Musician, actor and founding member of 2 Live Crew)
• Darlyne Chauve
• Udonis Haslem
• Arthur McDuffie
• Carrie P. Meek
• M. Athalie Range
• Mickey Rourke
• Trick Daddy
• Katrina Taylor (Musician, known in entertainment as 'Trina')
• Yahweh ben Yahweh
• Chad Ocho Cinco
• Bershawn Jackson
• Jacki-O
• Darnell Jenkins
• David Hudson
• Wilkie D. Ferguson, Jr. (Attorney, Judge)
• Betty Wright (Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and musician)
• Pitbull (rapper) (stagename of Cuban American hip hop artist)
• Les Brown (Motivational speaker)

See also

• Liberty City Riots
• Liberty Square Housing Projects/Pork 'n' Beans Projects
• Miami Workers Center
• Nation of Yahweh
• New Covenant Presbyterian Church of Miami

References

External links

• Photo Essay: Fitting Tribute by Hank Willis Thomas

Coordinates: 25°49′54″N 80°13′29″W / 25.831801°N 80.224829°W / 25.831801; -80.224829