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This Manatee County plantation had 190 slaves at its peak. Descendants want their story told

As Florida celebrates Emancipation Day on May 20, a descendant of an enslaved laborer at Gamble Plantation calls for a more balanced version of history.

Emerald Morrow, Gene Yagle

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Published: 12:12 AM EDT May 17, 2023
Updated: 10:30 AM EDT May 20, 2023

Tucked away on the side of a busy Manatee County road stands the vestige of a defining era in American history.

At its peak, the Gamble Plantation enslaved 190 men, women and children. Federal documents say they ranged in age from two months to 105 years old.

Their stories are not well known. In fact, few locals are even aware of a slave plantation in the Tampa Bay region.

Some historians say it's intentional.

A descendant says it's time for change.

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