The city has given the green light to a plan to rename a portion of Gamble Street after former Tallahassee residents Robert and Trudie Perkins. The African American husband and wife played an instrumental role locally in the civil rights movement. Robert Perkins traveled to Washington, DC to call out segregation in city government. As a result, the city changed its practices to hire Black employees at a ratio equal to their population at the time.
During Tuesday’s city commission meeting, Historic Preservationist Delaitre Hollinger spoke about the accomplishment.
“Any position that is filled in city government by an African American or a woman we have Robert and Trudie Perkins and their sacrifices to thank for that," said Hollinger.
Trudie Perkins was one of the first African-American nurses at Tallahassee Memorial Hospital. She helped fight for pay equity between Black and white nurses. And during the Tallahassee Bus Boycott, the couple’s gas station played a large role in providing gas to African Americans. Next city staff will ask for property owners along the roadway to agree to the change.
