Photos for Headline Surfer / TOP: Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry explains the significance of the new Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. memorial at Dr. James Huger Park with a message of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, despite the far-right racist rhetoric of the Trump Administration.
LEFT: The MLK sculpture serves as a lasting tribute, offering inspiration to locals and visitors alike in this tourism-driven city, home to the World's Most Famous Beach, where beach driving is allowed on specific stretches, where the speed limit is 10 mph, to ensure everyone's safety; and of course, Daytona International Speedway, home of NASCAR and its signature race, the Daytona 500, where stock cars battle it out at speeds of 185 mph on the high banks of the 2.5 mile oval track.
LEFT: The unveiling of the MLK memorial in Daytona Beach was a sight for those who attended the ceremony.
BELOW: Daytona Beach Zone 3 City Commissioner Quanita May, who sponsored the May 31st event in the Dr. James Huger Park, addresses the attendees.
By HENRY FREDERICK / Headline Surfer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Democrat mayor of Daytona Beach doesn't buy into Donald Trump's racial rhetoric against diversity, equity, and inclusion, which makes his city's unveiling of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. statue so special.
Mayor Derrick Henry said the MLK statue is a "significant reminder of one who paid the ultimate sacrifice to help lead our country in the rightful direction of diversity, equity, and inclusion."
Henry added that "while the totality of his dream remains a work in progress, his sacrifice and example of agape love remain a model of possibility for all. I am honored to preside over a city that recognizes the values that he espoused, and I stand in alignment with the Commission and the men of Alpha Phi Alpha who erected this statue in his honor."
The mayor continued: "It is my hope that it will serve as a perpetual reminder for generations to come that Dr.King is the personification of the greatest of America's ideals."
The new bronze bust honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been unveiled at Dr. James Huger Park in Daytona Beach. The bust is mounted on a concrete base and faces Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where it can be seen by pedestrians and motorists alike. Zone 3 City Commissioner Quanita May sponsored the memorial unveiled on May 31.
The new bronze bust honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has been unveiled at Dr. James Huger Park in Daytona Beach.
The bust is mounted on a concrete base and faces Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where it can be seen by pedestrians and motorists alike. Zone 3 City Commissioner Quanita May sponsored the memorial unveiled on May 31.
Reaction on social media (Facebook) to the MLK memorial has been positive, with more than a dozen posts.
Jenny Nazak wrote, "I love this city!!!"
Luis Alberto Huertas wrote, "Very good and wonderful!"
Karen Delise posted, "Thank you, Ms May! Beautiful gesture to a great man!"
Carolyn Sanders James, "Congratulations for such a wonderful project!"
And Belinda McMillan said, "Love Daytona Beach," among others.
Daytona Beach's Tourism Generators
The "World's Most Famous Beach" is in Daytona Beach, Florida. It's a popular tourist destination known for its hard-packed sand, which allows for driving on stretches zoned for motor vehicles and convenient parking near the surf. According to the publication, Headline Surfer is a local news source that often reports on events and happenings at Daytona Beach. The city is also home to various museums, including the Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Halifax Historical Museum, the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, the Southeast Museum of Photography, and the Daytona 500 Experience. Additionally, there's the Lilian Place Heritage Center and the Mary McLeod Bethune Home.
Here's a more detailed look at the beach:
- Location: Daytona Beach is located on the east coast of Central Florida.
- Famous for: Its racing history, particularly the Daytona 500.
- Beach features: Hard-packed sand allows for driving on the beach.
- News source: Headline Surfer covers local events and news, including those at the World's Most Famous Beach, and adjacent beachfront cities, including Daytona Beach Shores, Ponce Inlet, New Smyrna Beach, and Ormond Beach, and other locales across Volusia County. Besides Daytona Beach, the award-winning site focuses on two other major cities in Central Florida: Sanford in Seminole County, Orlando in Orange County, and adjoining communities along the I-4 corridor.
Multimedia: Watchful eyes of lifeguards
Headline Surfer YouTube download / Henry Frederick video / Aug. 29, 2014 / It's the changing of the (life) guard on Daytona Beach, also known as the World's Most Famous Beach where you can still drive on parts of the hard sands where NASCAR got its start more than half a century ago. There are lots of challenges: Shark bites, manatees, jellyfish, rip currents, surfing the curling waves, getting a tan "(or sunburn)...
Here's a more detailed look at DIS:
The Daytona International Speedway has undergone a massive $400 million redevelopment project, dubbed "Daytona Rising," which has significantly enhanced the stadium's grandstand seating and amenities. This includes around 101,500 seats and over 60 luxury suites. Additionally, the Speedway is home to NASCAR's premier event, the Daytona 500, and other events.
Daytona Beach's diverse population:
In 2023, Daytona Beach had a population of 75,924. The racial diversity is primarily represented by White (51%) and Black or African American (31.1%) populations. Other significant groups include Two+ (4.2%), Other (Hispanic) (3.86%), and Asian (2.82%). The population has recently increased, growing from 73,329 in 2022 to 75,924 in 2023, a 3.54% increase. The median age is 39.8, and the median household income is $50,130.
Multimedia: Raw speed
Headline Surfer YouTube download / Henry Frederick video / Feb. 27, 2013 / Raw Speed at the Daytona 500 race at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Daytona Beach municipal governance:
Derrick Henry was first elected mayor of Daytona Beach in 2012 and has been re-elected four times (without opposition in 2024). He is only the second Black mayor in the city's history. The first was Yvonne Scarlett-Golden. She served four terms as a city commissioner for Zone 5 before being elected mayor in 2003. She was re-elected in 2005, but passed away midway through her second term at age 80.
Daytona Beach City Commission: Mayor Henry is joined on the dais by Zone 1 Commissioner Monica Paris, Zone 2 Commissioner Ken Strickland, Zone 3 Commissioner Quanita May, Zone 4 Commissioner Stacy Cantu, Zone 5 Commissioner Dannette Henry mayor's kid sister), and Zone 6 Commissioner Paula R. Reed. The city manager is Deric C. Feacher, and the police chief is Jakari Young. Reflecting the city's diversity. Feacher and Young are Black, as are four of the seven elected leaders: Mayor Henry, and Commissioners May, Dannette Henry, and Reed.
About the Byline Writer: