Tampa library to preserve African American history

Central Avenue was once the Harlem of Tampa, where black-owned businesses flourished. The historic Jackson boarding house rented rooms to stars like Ella Fitzgerald and Cab Calloway. Former Florida N-double ACP director, Robert W. Saunders was a civil rights activist born and raised just around the corner.

Tampa is rich with African American history and the Hillsborough Library branch named after Saunders is looking to preserve that history. They are kick starting a Story Corps project to help capture the oral history of the black experience.

The Robert W. Saunders Senior Library stands in an area that's seen better days. Just across the street are closed down buildings with boarded up windows and chained fences – the aftermath of a notorious housing project that was recently put to the wrecking ball....