At the recent conference of the Network for Public Education, one of the truly outstanding speakers was Dr. Marvin Dunn, professor emeritus at Florida International University. Dr. Dunn has written several books about Black history in Florida, most notably A History of Florida Through Black Eyes. I read that book and realized that Dr. Dunn was the right recipient for NPE’s annual “David Award,” which goes to someone who spoke out and acted on behalf of justice against the powerful, regardless of the personal risks.
Dr. Dunn is not only an author but an active preservationist of Black history. To make sure that the massacre at Rosewood, Florida, would never be forgotten, he bought five acres there and regularly brings students and teachers to learn about it. He tells the story of visiting his land with his son; a “neighbor” tried to run them over in his truck. Dr. Dunn filed a complaint with the police, and the man was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Dr. Dunn asked to have the sentence reduced, and it was dropped to only one year. The audience was impressed by his generosity of spirit. However, Dr. Dunn tweeted several weeks later that the now-released felon hung a toy skeleton where Dr. Dunn could see it. You don’t need to study Critical Race Theory to know that Racism lives.
I think you will agree that his remarks are highly inspiring.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
You were correct. Very inspiring. But more informative. I have a masters degree in history, and I have always been receptive to any history story anyone would tell, regardless of its truth or falsehood (sometimes the myths teach you more than the hard history). I think it is remarkable that it is only in recent years that I have been made aware of what happened in Wilmington, Tulsa, Rosewood, and any one of several other incidents of mass murder motivated by racism. I had read Mark Twain”s United States of Lyncherdom, a typically scathing essay about the widespread violence in the South. There had been mention of white mobs during the period from the end of reconstruction to the Civil Rights movement. But stories about how these things happened have never been a part of what I studied.
Thanks for putting these places on the radar.
LikeLike
Roy, so glad you watched Dr. Dunn. You will enjoy his book on the history of Florida.
LikeLike
Diane: I do not think I ever enjoyed reading about a lot of the stuff related to reconstruction violence. I am not ashamed to read it, but it gives me no pleasure to know just how cruel people were. It makes me sure that they could be that way now given the right situation. From the New York draft riots in 1863 to all the race riots of the twenties, a half century of race riots ruined any hope for justice for a generation of people who had a wild hope for freedom.
we must never forget that freedom is only as durable as justice allows. If we cannot teach our children this, our freedom is a lie. Right on Mr Dunn!
LikeLike
It makes me sure that they could be that way now given the right situation.
As Trumpism makes abundantly clear, we are still at a very early stage in our development, still quite barbaric and quite primitive and superstitious and heedless and bigoted. Yeah, we can be right back there in a flash and a lot of our fellow citizens never moved a hair’s breadth from that virulent, violent racism of so much of our past.
LikeLike
Roy,
“Enjoy” was the wrong word.
Maybe “fascinating,” “engrossing” would be better.
LikeLike
Diane: I knew what you meant. I wanted to use the word in a different direction. I would never want to correct what you think or demean what you have to say. I hope my use of your word did nappear disrespectful. As you may have noticed, I do not like to disrespect people.
LikeLike
What a powerful speaker! Thank you.
Now, sorry, but it’s time for me to play around with what appear to be new WordPress tools. There’s bold face. Emphasis. Link. Highlight.
LikeLike
So grateful to have italics, now, for words, used as words, this word, for example.
LikeLike
Hmm. Didn’t seem to work.Word
LikeLike
I can use italics and bold in posts but not comments.
LikeLike
Couldn’t get the highlight and other tools to work, but I’ll figure it out eventually.
LikeLike
In 2004 Florida declared Rosewood a historical site, and the state of Florida in 2020 established a Rosewood Family Scholarship Program, paying up to $6,100 each to up to 50 students each year who are direct descendants of Rosewood families. DeSantis and company would like to erase the notion that systemic racism is real. However, by Florida’s attempt to acknowledge and try in a small way to make amends for past crimes, the state has recognized its violent racist history.
LikeLike