Page 5 - Florida Sentinel 12-4-20

Column Feature
HART ICEO Says Rosa Parks’ Gesture 65 Years Ago Was More Than A Bus Ride
Rosa Parks Book Marker
BY GWEN HAYES Sentinel Editor
“It all started on a bus because of Rosa Parks.” – Ruthie Reyes Burckard
When Rosa Parks re- fused to give up her seat on public transportation 65 years ago, that gesture meant more than a bus ride. “It was how the Civil Rights Move- ment started. It was more than about transit,” states, Ruthie Reyes Burckard, Interim Chief Executive Offi- cer, HART (Hillsborough Area Regional Transit).
During those segregated times, African Americans on public transportation had to give up their seats if a White person got on the bus and needed a seat. That day, De- cember 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for not giving up her seat in Montgomery, AL.
Ms. Burckard said that movement changed the way things were done, and many changes have taken place be- cause of that symbolic ges- ture. “We’re changing with the norm, working to make sure there’s equality.”
A 19-year employee of HART, Ms. Burckard started her transit career as a driver in New York. She knows the importance of “equalizing transit for every- one.” She has specifically worked with ADA. “We have to put ourselves in the seats of our riders to do what is right.” That includes provid- ing resources in areas of edu- cation, social services, housing and development.
For instance, with COVID-19, the agency had to cut back its services. But they’re now slowly bring back services.
HART recognizes the need to evolve with the ages.
RUTHIE REYES BURCKARD, HART Interim CEO
Rosa Parks Seat Sign
Their outreach marketing campaign, “celebrates (Rosa Park) year-round. We have mobile outreach programs with book marks, wrap around buses and seat savers.”
Ms. Burckard said churches and libraries still request book marks and “we still drive the message that Mrs. Parks started on a bus.”
One of Mrs. Parks’ quotes that Ms. Burckard recalls is, "You Must Never Be Fearful About What You Are Doing When It Is Right." - Rose Parks.
“Being resourceful, pro- viding essential services and looking out for our first re- sponders – this is what’s right,” Ms. Burckard said.
Black Votes Mattered Again
lack voters should
never say again that your vote doesn’t matter. Time and time again, we have proved that the Black vote matters, especially when we vote in large numbers and during presidential elections.
Newspapers predicted the impact of Black votes in the 2020 Election, while the PEW Research Center ob- served that Black voters de- livered President-Elect Joe Biden a victory through mo- bilization.
One Black voter was quoted as saying, “the fact that we have matched and topped white voter participa- tion ... while going through voter suppression in new and old forms, we are extraordi- nary.”
We have always been ex- traordinary. I am so proud of the way our ancestors voted in the past and of the way their descendants (our chil- dren and grandchildren) vote today. Many of us were brought up to never think of missing an election.
Historically, the Black vote has provided pivotal keys to the presidential wins of presidents, most recently, F. D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Kennedy, LB Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clin- ton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden elections.
During the years when 21 years of age was the mini-
mum age you could vote, Black college students cam- paigned for and encouraged Blacks to vote for the candi- dates most likely to promote and support an agenda from which Blacks would benefit (I supported John Kennedy’s campaign while at Morgan State University).” In 1971, “Amendment 26” lowered the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 by the rati- fication of the U. S. Congress on March 23rd and sent to each state to be ratified.
Indeed, the 26th Amend- ment prevents states from setting a voting age higher than 18. Registering to vote should become part of the “rite of passage” for every youth who turns 18 years of age.
While none of the presi- dents who enjoyed the bene- fit of the Black vote have been perfect, they each en- acted legislation, hired more Blacks in their administra- tions than other presidents, and launched education pro- grams, employment and training programs, commu- nity action programs, anti- poverty programs, economic/ business develop- ment, civil and voting rights, school desegregation, hous- ing and other funding of pro- grams that raised the educational, economic, vot- ing and quality of life for Black voters.
In 1960, Reverend M. L. King, Sr., endorsed
John Kennedy for presi- dent after Kennedy called Coretta King and facili- tated Rev. M. L. King, Jr.’s release from jail in At- lanta.
As a result, King’s sup- port yielded a winning mar- gin for Kennedy in several key states. Kennedy was elected president in one of the closest elections in U. S. history.
Though others may have done so, Joe Biden is the first president-elect I re- member expressing appreci- ation specifically to Blacks for their vote. We await the results of the Biden-Harris team. Blacks and all voters realized their votes were im- portant enough to wait in line for 8 hours or more to cast their ballot. Now, that I have your attention, remem- ber to tell your children and grandchildren to make sure they vote in every election. Their votes were bought and paid for by the blood of our ancestors and whites who thought our right to vote was worth dying for.
Going forward, we must make our vote count in every election... city, county, state and national. Imagine the clout we would have if even more of us vote every year and strategically utilized the data that shows more than 33-1/3% of Black voters” live in nine of the nation’s most competitive states --- Ari- zona, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wis- consin.” Nationwide, Blacks make up 12.5 % of the voting population.
Thus, where we live also has great impact on our vot- ing power. It is up to us to leverage our vote to benefit the Black population and the country in future elections.
Correction
In last Friday’s Sentinel, it was incorrectly stated that Garrett Sheffield signed with Georgetown University.
The young man who signed with George- town was Sheffield’s son, Jaden. Jaden will graduate from Tampa Preparatory High School among the 2020-2021 Class.
The Sentinel apologizes for any inconven- ience the error may have caused.
Gary Sheffield and son, Jaden
B
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