Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr.: Why ‘the teaching of our own history’ must prevail in Florida

Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr.
·2 min read

“I'm for truth, no matter who tells it. I'm for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I'm a human being, first and foremost, and as such I'm for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” - Malcolm X

We have launched a statewide task force in conjunction with the Florida General Baptist Convention, Inc., Reverend Dr. Carl Johnson, president, to demand that the governor of Florida and the State Department of Education, teach Black history accurately, factually, and forthrightly. In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in the state of Florida, we organized a task force labeled, "Teaching Our Own History."

Rev. RB Holmes, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, speaks to a crowd of hundreds from the steps of the Senate portico during the National Action Network demonstration in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis's efforts to minimize diverse education. The activists chanted and carried signs while making their way from Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida to the Capitol building Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

Carter G. Woodson, the founder of Negro History Week, encouraged us to not sit idly by and allow this system to “mis”-educate Black people.

Our task force will present to the government, a comprehensive curriculum that correctly and effectively teaches Africa and African-American history to students in Florida's public schools. Moreover, we will develop 40-plus "Freedom Schools” by 2025. We will not sit idly by and allow any governor, to erase the accurate teaching of Black history.

The objectives of “The Teaching Our Own History” Task Force are as follows:

  • To encourage the accurate and unbiased teaching of African American history, culture, experiences and invaluable contributions in the state of Florida and this nation.

  • To develop strategies and solutions to support and strengthen public education in marginalized communities.

  • To develop and adequately support 40 Freedom Academies across the state of Florida.

  • To create significant after school programs for students in Title One schools in marginalized communities across the state of Florida, using an age-appropriate African American History Curriculum to strengthen reading, writing and mathematics skills.

  • To create summer “Freedom Schools” to teach youth the importance of African Americans contributions, self-respect, personal responsibility, and African American contributions.

  • To empower and encourage the three private HBCUs in Florida to develop laboratory schools on their respective campuses by 2025.

  • To cultivate and create partnerships with foundations, businesses, and philanthropists to support programs and events that consistently celebrate the contributions of African American history, culture, literature, faith, and heritage.

Al Sharpton speaks to a crowd of hundreds from the steps of the Senate portico during the National Action Network demonstration in response to Gov. Ron DeSantis's efforts to minimize diverse education. The activists chanted and carried signs while making their way from Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida to the Capitol building Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

We all must redouble our efforts to fight for social justice, voting rights, civil rights, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The dismantling of programs of diversity, equity and inclusion are shameful and insulting.

The Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr.
The Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr.

The Rev. Dr. R.B. Holmes Jr., pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida, is chairman, Teaching Our Own History Task Force.

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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Why ‘the teaching of our own history’ must prevail in Florida