Prior to 1968, racially integrated education was prohibited by the Florida Constitution of 1885. In an effort to show that the state of Florida had a separate but equal college system for black people, counties, with state support, established 11 junior colleges for black people; only one already existed (Booker T. Washington).[4] In several cases a new junior college for whites was founded at approximately the same time. The 11 new junior colleges were opened in the late 1950s and early 1960s. They were abruptly closed following passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.[5]
^Smith, Walter L. (Walter Lee). The Magnificent Twelve : Florida’s Black Junior Colleges. Winter Park, Fla. (P.O. Box 2249, Winter Park 32790): FOUR-G Publishers, 1994.
^Wattenberger, James L.; Albertson, Harry T. (2012). "A Succinct History of the Florida Community College System". 2012 Trustee Orientation Manual(PDF). Association of Florida Colleges. pp. 68–69.