Dr. Enid Pinckney will be remembered as a woman who dedicated her life to the black community, working tirelessly to ensure that their past contributions were not forgotten in the telling of Miami’s history, and who worked tirelessly to preserve landmarks that celebrate black life in the city.
Dr. Pinkney died Wednesday at age 93. The cause of death has not been made public.
“She believed in our community so much that she preserved buildings and places that people didn’t think deserved it, and because of her, we have a better community because we embraced those buildings and invested in things that brought vibrancy to the neighborhood,” said Miami City Commissioner Keon Hardemon.
Her work benefited not only the Black community in South Florida, but all communities: Dr. Pinckney was the first Black president of the Dade Heritage Trust and Natives.
“Her work wasn’t limited to one area. She loved the black community, but she loved preservation and tradition for everyone. She felt that it was really important and you can see that in what she did,” said Connie Kinard of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Dr. Pinckney played a key role in many preservation efforts, including saving Miami Circle in downtown Miami from demolition.
One of her most famous moments was preventing the demolition of the historic Hampton House, an iconic building known for hosting civil rights leaders such as Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Thanks to Dr. Pinckney, the historic Hampton House has now been restored as a museum.
She also helped protect Virginia Key Beach, a former black-only beach in South Florida, from developers.
