GIFFORD, Fla. — The Indian River Chapter of the NAACP is preparing community members to advocate against new African-American history standards about slavery.
"During my watch, I will not allow it to be lost, stolen, forgotten or maliciously altered," Anthony Brown, the president of the Indian River County Branch of the NAACP, said.
Education
Florida Board of Education approves new Black history standards
Brown calls the efforts a "battle for black history" in Indian River County schools.
"It's vital that we do something and also that we inform our young folks of who they are, who their history is so that the false narrative is not perpetrated among our young children," Brown said.
The meeting hosted 100-plus people of all ages, races and backgrounds at the Gifford Community Center.
"They should be teaching the children the truth, whatever that may be," Pam Carter said.
Carter said she attended the meeting to educate herself on community issues as she prepares for the prepares for election season.
"It's all about inclusion," Carter said. "We need to stand together, and we need to support each other, and we need to include all children, everyone."
During the town hall, the group collected ideas and strategies to take to the school board meeting in defense of black history.
"Don't get a cop-out and feel you get a get-out-of-jail-free card (and say), 'Well, the governor said,'" Brown said. "No, no. We elected you. Either do your job or find another one."
During public input, Thomas Kenny, the policy media director for Indian River County Moms for Liberty, stood in support of the new standards.
"You're coming against a lot of scholarship that is to the benefit of the African-American student," Kenny said.
Kenny referenced a book titled "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass" in which he quotes Douglass stating, "I owe almost as much to the bitter oppression of my master as to the kindly aid of my mistress. I acknowledge the aid of both."
Brown called the claims made by Kenny to be a manipulation of historical events.
"If you had to describe the word 'benefitted,' is it incorrect to use? Is it misunderstood? How would you describe it?" WPTV reporter Joel Lopez asked Kenny.
"It's not precise, I guess, as people might say," Kenny answered. "You could say, 'Despite the horrors of slavery.'"
Kenny said African-American studies has become politicized and hopes to meet with the NAACP to continue the conversation.
"I think that African-American history is being taught," Kenny said. "It'll continue to expand, it'll continue to be refined, just like we all do in our education."
During the meeting, organizers encouraged people to write emails and letters to the Department of Education and to speak up at next Monday's school board meeting.
"If you take the time to actually read the standards in full, you would see that we show a wholly open and honest retelling of African American history – the good, the bad and the ugly," Cailey Myers, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education, said.
