Page 11 - Florida Sentinel 2-9-18

Today’s Jim Crow Laws
Meeting Planned To Discuss Helping Children At 7 Schools
BY DR. SHANDALE TERRELL
WhenIwasachildI thought like a child and was both innocent and unknowl- edgeable to the reality of the legacy of the Jim Crow Laws. As an adult, I am more con- scious and concerned about the welfare of my fellow citi- zens and especially those im- pacted by the remnants of the Jim Crow mindset.
Inequality remains as the dust we still have not shaken from our heels as we enter a new year and put our youthful ways of our past behind us.
The United States Supreme Court declared the Civil Rights Acts unconstitu- tional in 1883 which gave constitutional foundation to the Jim Crow Laws. While Jim Crow Laws were born years ago, they brought an undisputed inequality based on race to life in a way that constructed the appearance of acceptability of racial discrim- ination, hate crimes, and even murders of African Ameri- cans.
The depressing Jim Crow Laws were statutes and ordi- nances established between the years of 1874 and 1975, to
DR. SHANDALE TERRELL
separate the races in the south.
During that time, the Jim Crow Laws executed more than 4,000 African American men and women. Young chil- dren endured hate crimes that often times went unpunished, untried and some children were even murdered. There’s no telling what other horrible acts that took place to demor- alize Africa American citizens.
These laws openly and systemically created separa- tion of cultures, ethics, educa- tion, medical care and economics with the decisive and divisive condemnation of African American citizens.
Inequality was the law in the United States of America,
more importantly the South- ern States were the strong- hold States that enforced the Jim Crow Laws: Alabama, Arkansas, Flori- da, Georgia, Louisiana, Mis- sissippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
Today we are still see- ing functional separation and discrimination in our daily lives, in addition to the many institutions we operate in: K-12 Schools, Colleges, Universities, Judicial Systems, Health Care, Economic Growth, Public and Private Jobs, Communities, Cities, Counties, States and in our Country.
Inequality in unspoken laws wreak of the scent of Jim Crow Laws. The interesting thing is we now have tools and resources to help us grow beyond the age of the Jim Crow Laws. One of the most important tools is our vote and a critical resource is our voice.
[Dr. Shandale Terrell is a Community Activist, Leader, Educator and a Member of the Lakeland Branch NAACP.]
A meeting will be held on Monday, February 12th, 6 p.m., to discuss the 7 schools in Hillsborough County under scrutiny by the State Department of Ed- ucation. The meeting will take place at St. John P. M. B. Church, 2504 E. Chipco Street.
The schools are B. T. Washington, Foster, Mort, Oak Park, Potter, Sheehy El- ementary Schools and Me- morial Middle School. Organizers of the meeting
are asking retired teachers, community leaders, church, and high school students who are willing to serve as tutors to attend.
During the meeting, those interested in tutoring will have an opportunity to register. Everyone must complete the AHCPS Volun- teer Application, which can be found online at www.Vol- unteeringinHCPS.com.
For additional informa- tion call (813) 417-6132 or (813) 704-8303.
Library News
Everlasting Love: African Americans Of Tampa
Saturday, February 17, 2018 * 10:30 A. M. - 12 P. M. West Tampa - Tony Garcia, Jr. Community Room
Local author Ersula Odom will speak about her new book, African Americans of Tampa, in- spired by her love of Tampa’s African American history. She will discuss the stories behind the pho- tographs she selected for the book and her experience working with the library’s photographic collection.
For more classes and events at a library near you, call 813-273-3652 or go to the web- site, www.hcplc.org.
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2018 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 11-A