Grandson of St. Pete pioneer Elder Jordan Sr. challenges community to continue the legacy
Thursday, October 29, 2020
A statue of St. Petersburg trailblazer Elder Jordan Sr. now stands at the Historic Manhattan Casino, one of the many city landmarks he brought to life.
City and civic leaders unveiled the statue Wednesday afternoon, in what Jordan’s grandson, Rev. Dr. Basha Jordan, called an historic and momentous occasion.
It’s the first statue of its kind to be commissioned by the City of St. Petersburg.
“We don’t erect many statues here in St. Pete. In fact, we’re not sure that the city has ever really taken this kind of role in erecting a statue previously, which I think speaks to the extraordinary contributions of Elder Jordan,” said Mayor Rick Kriseman. “He was a remarkable man who didn’t just build a dance hall or fight to get a school constructed. He built opportunity. He paved the way for much progress here in St. Pete and we thank him and his family.”
Elder Jordan Sr. was born into slavery and became a successful businessman, according to a 2014 report in The Weekly Challenger. Before he died in 1936, he built the Jordan dance hall, now the Manhattan Casino. He fought for a school for Black children, and Jordan Park Elementary, which opened in 1925, is named for him. He donated the land for the Jordan Park housing development. He also established a bus line and a beach for African Americans during segregation.
Visit www.stpetecatalyst.com to read more.
Categories: History, Art & Culture Organizations, Top Story