The Highwaymen, a group of 26 individuals, mostly men but including one woman, have traveled a long road, now marked by age and experience. Through the years, they’ve achieved numerous accolades, starting from the tumultuous 1950s up until 2004, when recognition finally came to these 26 African-American artists. Their journey led them to the Museum of Florida History’s Artists Hall of Fame in Tallahassee, Florida, where they were honored for their contributions. A significant milestone was reached when the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., acquired a collection of 18 Highwaymen paintings in 2014, later displayed to the public in 2016. From humble beginnings to becoming legends, the Highwaymen have garnered acclaim on local, national, and international levels. Yet, their path was far from easy, marked by struggle and spanning their entire lifetimes. They are now celebrated as the Original Florida Highwaymen Artists.

Alfred Hair, an African-American high school art enthusiast, stood apart from his peers who toiled as field laborers, harboring a strong desire to pursue painting as a career. Under Backus’s tutelage, Hair became the sole student to learn painting techniques, sparking an unlikely friendship and partnership. Thus, the foundation was laid for what would later be recognized as the Florida Highwaymen painters, who left an indelible mark on the artistic landscape of Florida.