TRUTH IN THE SHADOWS:
CRIME, MYSTERY, AND POLITICS

Every day, thousands cross the Fortune Taylor Bridge without knowing the woman behind its name. Born enslaved, Madame Fortune Taylor became a powerful landowner along Tampa’s riverfront, defending her property, supporting her community, and shaping the city’s future. This Fast Facts story reveals how her legacy endured even as history tried to erase her—and why her bridge remains a quiet symbol of Black women’s power and persistence.