Gary Allen proudly holds a street sign during the ceremony naming a street after his aunt, the esteemed Dr. Enid Curtis-Pinkney.By AL DIAZ
(Source: miamiherald.com)
Enid Pinkney, a renowned activist and historian, has been honored with a street named after her near the Historic Hampton House in Miami. This tribute recognizes her lifelong dedication to preserving and celebrating Black history in Miami.
Pinkney’s journey as an activist began with her father, Henry Curtis, who bravely stood up to a white police officer during a traffic stop. This pivotal moment inspired Pinkney’s passion for civil rights and Black history. Born to Bahamian parents and raised in Overtown, Pinkney spent her life advocating for the preservation of Black culture and landmarks.
One of Pinkney’s notable achievements was saving the Historic Hampton House, a former hub for Miami’s Black community that hosted icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. After the building fell into disrepair, Pinkney’s tireless efforts led to the county purchasing it in 2004. The building was reopened in 2015 as a cultural center and museum.
The street naming ceremony, led by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, featured a Junkanoo band honoring Pinkney’s Bahamian heritage. The ceremony took place outside the Hampton House, a venue Pinkney played a crucial role in saving.
Pinkney’s legacy extends beyond the landmarks she preserved. Her values of knowing one’s heritage and preserving history will continue to inspire future generations. As her nephew, Gary Allen, reflected, “When people see that name and ask, ‘Who is Enid Pinkney?’ it will bring her legacy to the forefront and remind everyone of what she stood for.” Activist Enid Pinkney honored with street named after her near Hampton House.
Gary Allen vividly recalls driving his aunt, Enid Pinkney, to dialysis and noticing the names on street signs.
“We would pass by 50th Street, and she would tell me about the person whose name was on the sign,” Allen shared with the Miami Herald. One such street was named after Bishop Joseph D. Williams, a South Florida pastor and activist who championed Black voter registration. Now, Allen will see Pinkney’s name on a street sign near the Historic Hampton House—a fitting tribute to her lifelong commitment to celebrating and preserving Black history in Miami.
Pinkney’s dedication to ensuring Black history holds a rightful place in Miami’s legacy inspired the renaming of a street in her honor. “She’s been doing this her whole life,” said AnnMarie Henry, co-founder of Profiles in Black Miami, a nonprofit that helped organize the renaming. “This is why we felt she was so deserving.”
On Friday morning, a ceremony unveiled the newly renamed Dr. Enid Curtis Pinkney Street, which spans Northwest 42nd Street between Northwest 27th and 29th Avenues, near the Historic Hampton House. The initiative was led by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, in collaboration with Profiles in Black Miami and the Curtis Foundation.
Hardemon highlighted the significance of Pinkney’s contributions, noting her role in preserving key landmarks like the Historic Hampton House in Brownsville and the Lyric Theatre in Overtown. “These are places of pride and culture that will continue to grow, and if she gave her time to preserve our history, we should take the time to preserve hers,” Hardemon told the Herald.
The ceremony featured a Junkanoo band, honoring Pinkney’s Bahamian heritage, and took place outside the Hampton House—a venue Pinkney was instrumental in saving. Once a thriving hub for Miami’s Black community, hosting icons like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, the building had fallen into disrepair after closing in 1970. Thanks to Pinkney’s tireless efforts, the county purchased it in 2004, and it reopened in 2015 as a cultural center and museum.
Born to Bahamian parents and raised in Overtown, Pinkney’s passion for civil rights and Black history was inspired by her father, Henry Curtis, who stood up to a white police officer during a traffic stop. That act of bravery set her on a path of advocacy that lasted her entire life.
In her final years, Pinkney continued her mission, fighting against Hialeah’s attempts to annex Brownsville, the neighborhood she had called home in since 1968. She passed away in July at age 92, but her legacy endures through the landmarks she saved and now, the street that bears her name.
Reflecting on the honor, Allen shared how the sign will serve as a reminder of the moments he shared with his aunt. “It will remind me of love, forgiveness, and pressing through hard times,” he said, jokingly adding, “And of her getting on my nerves while I helped her out of the car.”
Above all, Allen believes the street sign will symbolize Pinkney’s values. “She always stressed knowing who you are and where you come from,” he said. “When people see that name and ask, ‘Who is Enid Pinkney?’ it will bring her legacy to the forefront and remind everyone of what she stood for.”
