Historic Hampton House launches live music, film series
The Historic Hampton House is getting its soul back.
Not that the 1953 segregation-era motel and lounge ever lost its soul. But like most events venues, COVID-19 has kept Miami’s unique cultural gem mostly dimmed.
Plans to turn Hampton House’s lights back on are underway this month, with mandatory mask wearing, social distancing and sanitizing protocols in place.
This former motelturned-cultural-center is currently putting on a live music series and will start up a film series on Thursday – both celebrating African-American culture and pride.
“This is a beautiful facility with an amazing history, and we see the chance to push it forward,” said Historic Hampton House interim CEO Imani Warren, talking about these and other plans. “We’re trying to let the community and Miami know that we’re open, that you can come enjoy yourself, and you can be safe.”
Warren said the cultural center will limit the amount of in-house tickets sold and is working on providing livestreaming for the concerts.
In its heyday, the Hampton House, located in the
Brownsville neighborhood near Liberty City, was a place where Black visitors felt safe in the Jim Crow era. With its midcentury style, plus a jazz club, restaurant and swimming pool, the motel was a crown jewel of the “Green Book,” the guide for African-American travelers during segregation.
The Hampton House welcomed Black celebrities who performed at Miami Beach hotels but could not spend the night there. It was like a second home for many civil rights leaders. Martin Luther King Jr. is said to have tried out his famous “I Have A Dream” speech at the motel a few years before delivering it during the 1963 March on Washington. Malcolm X and then Cassius Clay ate ice cream together in the Hampton House cafeteria to celebrate the young boxer’s 1964 victory over heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Shortly after winning the title fight in Miami, Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.
White performers like Frank Sinatra and Vic Damone trekked to the Hampton House to visit or perform at its jazz lounge. The motel was also a place for community weddings, anniversaries, beauty contests and other events.
“It’s always been a symbol of human dignity and inclusion,” said Keith
Clarke, curator of Hampton House’s jazz and film series. “It was a place for people to build bridges, go out and seek equality.”
Clarke grew up in Brownsville and remembers attending a Hampton House music program for youngsters. Now, Clarke is trying to build his own bridges, hoping to attract people who have never heard about the historic venue.
Among plans for the new year, the Hampton House is working on guided audio tours, where visitors can see, among other things, the suite where King Jr. stayed and listen to one of his speeches. Warren also hopes to organize an event celebrating “One Night In Miami,” a new motion picture based on a fictionized encounter between Malcom X, Cassius Clay, Jim Brown and Sam Cooke that takes place at the famed Miami motel. The film, Regina King’s directorial debut, is scheduled for a limited theater release on Christmas Day and a Jan. 15 release on Amazon Prime.
For more information on the Historic Hampton House, or the music and film series, visit: Historichamptonhouse.org or the Miami Jazz and Film Society Facebook page, Facebook.com/ miamijazzandfilmsociety.
ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit source of theater, dance, visual arts, music and performing arts news.