A hidden legacy was recently uncovered when a local family said they were surprised to learn their aunt was part of the legendary 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, known as “The Six Triple Eight.”

During Black History Month, News4JAX is celebrating local African American trailblazers who paved the way in politics and public service. These are just a few of the figures whose influence is still felt among the local African American community.

Dr. Hester Petty said three memorable experiences in her life involving discrimination always kept her motivated to fight for truth and justice.

Kevin Waters is the first African American to be an owner of a professional sports team in Jacksonville, and the first to be named as a head coach of a professional sports team in the city.

Thunderbolt Patterson was more than just a pro wrestler from the 1960's through 1980's. He was also a man who fought for civil rights and was an outcast in the industry for several years.

Orange Park's Town Hall sits on the property that was once home to the Normal and Industrial School, which was ahead of its time. An abolitionist group taught Black and white students under one roof at the school in the late 1800s.

The Historical Society of Orange Park is dedicated to preserving the stories of African Americans who have played significant roles in the area’s history. One example of this is the story of Lawrence Hicks, also known as the “Ice Man,” who ran a successful ice delivery business in the late 1930s and 1940s.

One way you can celebrate Black History Month is to shop at or visit local Black-owned businesses. So we've compiled a list to help you find them in your neighborhood.

Black History Month, a celebration of Black history, culture and education, kicks off on Feb. 1.

Black history is made daily but because of Carter G. Woodson — nicknamed the father of Black History Month — the celebration of Black culture is commemorated during the second month of the year.

The legendary Durkee Field built in 1912, now known as James P. Small Park and Hank Aaron Field, received improvements to the ballfield, which will be celebrated in a ceremony Friday.

A state task force responsible for selecting the site for the Florida Museum of Black History recommended St. Johns County as the new home for the museum in a final vote on Friday.

A state task force in charge of selecting where Florida’s Black History Museum will be located voted Tuesday to move forward with St. Johns County as the recommended location.

A street in Jacksonville Beach now has a new name in honor of a person who made history in the city.

No one wants to miss out, so we want to give you a second chance to watch some of our top videos from the last week -- or share them with someone you know!

Family, friends and the community will remember the life of Jacksonville civil rights icon Lloyd Pearson at a memorial service Friday morning.

The family of the late civil rights icon Lloyd Pearson is sharing stories about his fight for equality and the legacy he left behind.

A community meeting was held Monday night to talk about the new controversial Black history curriculum in Florida Schools.

After News4JAX reported that members of a Jacksonville church said they feel an overgrown African American cemetery in Spring Park has been neglected and forgotten, a Georgia family reached out and said their loved one’s gravesite was among those in deplorable condition.

For the first time in NFL history, two Black quarterbacks are playing in the Super Bowl. Here is why that matters.

Leo and Shirley Grainger pushed to name school after Medal of Honor recipient Robert H. Jenkins Jr.

It all started with one week in 1926, when one organization chose the second week of February to promote the achievements by Black Americans and other people of African descent.

January 16 is a national holiday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday. Throughout the day, there have been parades, rallies and memorials to honor his legacy.

Hundreds of people were at the Seawalk Pavilion on Sunday for what organizers said was the first Juneteenth event at Jacksonville Beach.

With Juneteenth on Sunday, several Jacksonville organizations found ways to celebrate the now federal holiday early on Saturday.

SeniorCare365′s Black History event celebrates our elders--the generations that have endured the civil rights movement. With games, music of their time and fun prizes, it is a gathering to celebrate love and birthdays -- to honor our our senior citizens and show them a good time.

With so much history discussed about St. Augustine and Jacksonville, there are plenty of nuggets connected to Black History that many don’t know about. Rance hit the archives to dig up a few interviews about the notable history of the River City and the First City. A deeper dive into the history is in the works. Consider this an appetizer.

Juneteenth is coming up, this weekend in fact -- and for those who might be unfamiliar, the holiday commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.

Juneteenth, the holiday celebrating the day in 1865 that all enslaved Black people learned they had been freed, is often celebrated by families across the nation -- with events including cookouts, parades or community festivals.

Juneteenth, which takes place June 19 each year, is the name for the date in 1865 when Union soldiers freed the remaining slaves in Texas, enforcing the Emancipation Proclamation.