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School Board Votes To Retain KKK Leader’s Name

The Fort Myers News-Press

/

November 4, 2008

The Duval County School Board voted 5-2 not to change the name of a majority black high school named after Ku Klux Klan founder Nathan Bedford Forrest.
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6 Comments

6 Responses to
'School Board Votes To Retain KKK Leader’s Name'


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  1. Clark Robinson said,

    on November 6th, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    A good BOD (board of directors) listens to the community and the people, in this case the people seem to have spoken… but the board is not listening.

    It makes sense that this school has received and “F” grade on state assessment tests… they’re walking around with their eyes closed, hands covering their ears… and their mouths wide open.

    Isn’t that what you do… when you take a DUMP?

  2. Ronald Kephart said,

    on November 6th, 2008 at 1:03 pm

    [Submitted to the Jacksonville, FL, Times-Union]

    As social scientists, we are saddened that the Duval County School Board voted last night, 5-2, to maintain the abuse of local children by not seeking a new name for Nathan Bedford Forrest High School.

    Forrest was a traitor to the United States who fought on the wrong side in the US Civil War. Ironically, he would have denied the African American children who attend NBF not only an education, but also their personal liberty. As a genocidal sociopath, and as he demonstrated during the war, he likely would have denied them their lives as well.

    There are so many worthy, humanistic people that this school could be named for. Zora Neal Hurston, an outstanding Floridian folklorist and writer, is one. Another is Stetson Kennedy, a Jacksonville native who risked life and limb to infiltrate Forrest’s KKK and help reduce its power over people.

    Ronald Kephart
    Anthropologist
    Jacksonville

    Forrest D. Cring
    Anthropologist and NBF Class of ’67
    Lafayette, LA

  3. John Criswell said,

    on November 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm

    The board members must have attended this failing school. Nostalgia warms the cockles of the ignorant heart.

  4. Tom Kissner said,

    on November 6th, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    Nathan Bedford Forrest’s name was probably given to the school in recognition of his considerable military skill demonstrated during his service as an officer in the Army of the Confederacy. I hold no grudge whatsoever against the Confederacy or those who fought for it, despite my abhorrance for slavery. HOWEVER, there are three important reasons why Nathan Bedford Forrest’s name does not belong on ANY school, and certainly not on a school with any concentration of African-American students.

    1.) Prior to the Civil War, Forrest was a slave-dealer, certainly an occupation undeserving of commemoration.

    2.) During the Civil War, Forrest commanded the troops which captured Fort Pillow, which was being defended by black Union soldiers. He ordered the slaughter of those soldiers AFTER they had surrendered, along with any black women and children who had been sheltered within the fort. Executing prisoners of war and non-combatant civilians is unconscienable, regardless of race or nationality.

    3.) Finally, as has been mentioned, he founded the Ku Klux Klan, an organization often excused as defenders of Southern whites against the abuses of the Reconstruction Period, but effectively terrorizing, torturing, killing, and disenfranchising the African-American citizens.

    I hope that the powers that be will reconsider removing Nathan Bedford Forrest’s name from that school.

  5. MrsBrown said,

    on November 7th, 2008 at 3:58 pm

    Why is it so hard for some to people to see, that there are ignorant people in every race???? We are ALL people, in God’s image & only He has all the power! Just as God formed the Sun to provide Earth with light, heat, etc. God created the ability for various colors to be viewed on Earth. (blue waters, orange, red purple sunsets, etc.) Why would anyone doubt that God is more than capable of creating people of different colors as well? He does not love a red rose more than a pink rose nor does God love a white person more than a black person! I will pray for us all that God be glorified in this mess of hate. God loves us ALL!!!!

  6. Clark Robinson said,

    on November 9th, 2008 at 12:03 am

    …speaking of all of this… why do we name school mascots after animals and violent creatures anyway…

    I for one (I know I’ve changed the subject, but) would love to see schools and other things that influence our youth be associated with mind expanding and thought provoking titles titles and slogans like… “The Contenders” or how about “Angles Of The id” or “Keepers Of The Peace” as a mascot title?

    What’s with all of this Crocodiles, and Panthers, and Gorillas… it’s no wonder our kids are killing each other… it is being implied that this is what they should aspire to… something that has no compassion when confronted or opposed. Is that how you want to handle those who oppose you… destroy them… is it not better to negotiate?

    You just might learn something that you didn’t know.

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