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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKKK Battles Town Over School Bearing Klansman’s Name
KKK Battles Town Over School Bearing Klansmans Name
Posted on Oct 21, 2013
Residents of Jacksonville, Fla., are trying to get school officials to strike the name of Nathan B. Forresta former Ku Klux Klan grand wizardfrom the title of their high school.
Administrators attached Forrests name to the school in 1959 in an act of defiance to integration laws enforced by the case of Brown v. Board of Education. Jacksonville resident Omotayo Richmond launched a Change.org petition asking the Duval County School Board to change the name. He has collected 150,000 signatures so far.
An effort to change the name back in 2008 failed by a vote of 5 to 2. Board members are the only people empowered to make the change.
I dont want my daughter, or any student, going to a school named under those circumstances, Richmond writes on the petitions Web page. This is a bad look for Floridawith so much racial division in our state, renaming Forrest High would be a step toward healing. .......................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/kkk_battles_town_over_school_bearing_klansmans_name_20131021?ln
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)thucythucy
(8,069 posts)I'm pretty sure NBF--slavetrader, traitor, war criminal--remained a racist until the day he died.
Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)In 1875, Forrest demonstrated that his personal sentiments on the issue of race now differed from that of the Klan, when he was invited to give a speech before an organization of black Southerners advocating racial reconciliation, called the Independent Order of Pole-Bearers Association. At this, his last public appearance, he made what the New York Times described as a "friendly speech"[10] during which, when offered a bouquet of flowers by a black woman, he accepted them as a token of reconciliation between the races and espoused a radically progressive (for the time) agenda of equality and harmony between black and white Americans.[54] His speech was as follows:
"Ladies and Gentlemen I accept the flowers as a memento of reconciliation between the white and colored races of the southern states. I accept it more particularly as it comes from a colored lady, for if there is any one on God's earth who loves the ladies I believe it is myself. ( Immense applause and laughter.) This day is a day that is proud to me, having occupied the position that I did for the past twelve years, and been misunderstood by your race. This is the first opportunity I have had during that time to say that I am your friend. I am here a representative of the southern people, one more slandered and maligned than any man in the nation. I will say to you and to the colored race that men who bore arms and followed the flag of the Confederacy are, with very few exceptions, your friends. I have an opportunity of saying what I have always felt - that I am your friend, for my interests are your interests, and your interests are my interests. We were born on the same soil, breathe the same air, and live in the same land. Why, then, can we not live as brothers? I will say that when the war broke out I felt it my duty to stand by my people. When the time came I did the best I could, and I don't believe I flickered. I came here with the jeers of some white people, who think that I am doing wrong. I believe that I can exert some influence, and do much to assist the people in strengthening fraternal relations, and shall do all in my power to bring about peace. It has always been my motto to elevate every man- to depress none. (Applause.) I want to elevate you to take positions in law offices, in stores, on farms, and wherever you are capable of going. I have not said anything about politics today. I don't propose to say anything about politics. You have a right to elect whom you please; vote for the man you think best, and I think, when that is done, that you and I are freemen. Do as you consider right and honest in electing men for office. I did not come here to make you a long speech, although invited to do so by you. I am not much of a speaker, and my business prevented me from preparing myself. I came to meet you as friends, and welcome you to the white people. I want you to come nearer to us. When I can serve you I will do so. We have but one flag, one country; let us stand together. We may differ in color, but not in sentiment. Use your best judgement in selecting men for office and vote as you think right. Many things have been said about me which are wrong, and which white and black persons here, who stood by me through the war, can contradict. I have been in the heat of battle when colored men, asked me to protect them. I have placed myself between them and the bullets of my men, and told them they should be kept unharmed. Go to work, be industrious, live honestly and act truly, and when you are oppressed I'll come to your relief. I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for this opportunity you have afforded me to be with you, and to assure you that I am with you in heart and in hand." (Prolonged applause.)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest
thucythucy
(8,069 posts)in Jerusalem that he had very friendly feelings toward Jews.
That the perpetrator of the Fort Pillow massacre considered himself "slandered and maligned" is laughable. And for someone who routinely sold black women as chattel (at least some of whom were no doubt raped and abused by their "masters" to crack a joke about how much he "loves the ladies" is downright creepy.
"It has always been my motto to elevate every man, to depress none."
Again, this from a man who made millions as a slave trader.
No apology, no contrition, not even an acknowledgement of his sordid past. Just a lot of self-serving blather.
Byrd, by contrast, owned up to his past racist associations, and apologized for them. He also, as far as I know, never made money buying and selling black people.
Sorry, but I just don't see Forrest as being worthy of praise. Considering his past, his evident lack of contrition, and the damage he did this country in lives lost and ruined, he makes Benedict Arnold look benign by comparison.
LuvNewcastle
(16,846 posts)I would support a change, but I'm sure it will never happen. It would be considerably easier to change the name of a high school, though. I hope they're successful.
gopiscrap
(23,761 posts)Nye Bevan
(25,406 posts)Should schools be named after them?
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Washington won the War for Independence. Jefferson drafted the document upon which the United States was founded, and still continues to be a source of inspiration. Both men were active in drafting a Constitution which, while originally containing racist elements, also made provisions so that those racist elements could be abolished, which they have been in the ensuing years. And both men were presidents during the critical early years of the United States. So of course they deserve to honored in such ways.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Robert E. Lee and Jefferson Davis high schools in the south...