- Joined
- Jun 18, 2018
- Messages
- 55,585
- Reaction score
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- Political Leaning
- Progressive
"Now, as a new school year started, the Rev. Gaston Smith was standing at the pulpit with a lesson on one of those chapters. After months of controversy over new directives governing classroom instruction in Florida — changes that critics said sanitized or even distorted the past — he and other Black pastors across the state agreed their churches had no choice but to respond. They would teach Black history themselves.
...Then Smith said he wanted to show a documentary about an “injustice that has taken place right here in the state of Florida many years ago.” He stepped aside as the video began playing and a woman named LaVon Bracy recounted being beaten when she became one of the first three Black students at Gainesville High School in 1964.
“If you want to look at who feels bad, I was born into this world as if it was designed for me to live feeling bad,” she said with an exasperated laugh. “I don’t think any lesson should be taught to make anyone feel angry, but if it’s history, it’s history, right?”
...His congregants were feeling battered by all that was happening in the state, and he hoped to remind them of their importance. “Not only to God,” he told them, “but we are important to this nation, important to this state.”"
Link
This is a remarkable story in that it shows those who lived through history are still here to share their stories.
It points out that everyone can feel bad about this history, but that means it's just that much more neccesary to learn it and pass on.
And then, of course, it's shameful that the white people won't allow it to be taught in schools and white kids won't learn it because of....feelings.
Shades of racial segregation.
...Then Smith said he wanted to show a documentary about an “injustice that has taken place right here in the state of Florida many years ago.” He stepped aside as the video began playing and a woman named LaVon Bracy recounted being beaten when she became one of the first three Black students at Gainesville High School in 1964.
“If you want to look at who feels bad, I was born into this world as if it was designed for me to live feeling bad,” she said with an exasperated laugh. “I don’t think any lesson should be taught to make anyone feel angry, but if it’s history, it’s history, right?”
...His congregants were feeling battered by all that was happening in the state, and he hoped to remind them of their importance. “Not only to God,” he told them, “but we are important to this nation, important to this state.”"
Link
This is a remarkable story in that it shows those who lived through history are still here to share their stories.
It points out that everyone can feel bad about this history, but that means it's just that much more neccesary to learn it and pass on.
And then, of course, it's shameful that the white people won't allow it to be taught in schools and white kids won't learn it because of....feelings.
Shades of racial segregation.