Florida town, students resist letting state’s war on Black history be forgotten

I'm a 72 year old white man, and I was lucky enough to be educated on the civil rights movement by my two older brothers when I was a teenager. But it's in only in the last few years that I've become aware of the fact that, across the country, entire black communities were wiped out. Now that I'm aware of Ocoee, I wonder how many more have occurred that I'm still not aware of. And it's beyond despicable that these politicians want to hide this history.

History is not ours to like or dislike, but to recognize and learn from.

We live in a backwards time, where right is wrong and wrong is right; where evil is allowed to flourish.

I’m a Florida girl born and raised, never heard of Ocoee Massacre or Rosewood until my mid twenties. Didn’t even question where black people were before slavery until a white teacher passionate about education asked my class the question in an African American History class in COLLEGE. I was reluctant to take the class because every year we were taught the same stories for black history and history in K-12 so I thought I knew it all. Until this day, that was my favorite and most fulfilling class, and outside of the horrors, our history is RICH. If it doesn’t get passed in schools, regardless, make an effort, to learn your history.

Do not let them hide your history. Please, stand up for these brave, brilliant students.

I grew up in Tulsa Oklahoma in the 1970’s. We were required to take Oklahoma history. My mother taught Oklahoma history in high school. We were never told of the Tulsa massacre. We were taught it was a riot of black people. I didn’t know the truth until I was about 55 years old. Shameful.

These young people give me hope for our future.

This was amazing reporting, great job, I watched it with my husband and 17 year old daughter. Please keep this trend of historical education in your roster!!

As a white mother, I will make it my duty to teach my children black history and all of the true history of our country. I live in Florida and I will be damned if my children are not taught what black people have suffered in thia country. I raise my children in love for everyone, no matter the color of their skin, who they love or what they choose to believe. I will never back down from that!!!

Imagine being afraid of blacks, browns, jews, gays, women, science, journalism, math, history, rainbows, and education itself. That's being a Republican.

So proud of these students speaking out!!!!!!

and the saddest part about is that the students, yes the students are smarter than the governor.

A German YouTuber shared what his teacher said regarding the Holocaust: "You are not responsible for what happened back then, but it is your duty to do everything in your power to prevent it from happening again". I think that's something we can all take to heart.

I am fifty years old. This is the first time I’ve ever heard of the Ocoee massacre. Ever. I look up what I can about the murders and other violence against innocent black people in the United States because we are not taught this history in schools. Still- I’ve never heard about this and DeSantis and others want us to learn less?!?? The whitewashing that is happening in this country is ridiculous. Please, please, keep sharing our history- elders that know PLEASE put these stories on line for future generations. It may be the only way people ever know. “Those who don’t learn about history are guaranteed to repeat it!!” We must not allow the fascist leaders to take away the knowledge of the horrific atrocities committed in this country, nor can we let them repeat those acts! Stand together, and vote these people out!! It’s time we take back our country, accept what we’ve done wrong, and elect people that do not want to continue to do wrong! 💙🩵🗳️🇺🇸✊✊🏻✊🏼✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿🇺🇸🗳️🩵💙

I'm a Floridian, born and raised. I live an hour outside of Orlando. I'm also 31...and this is the first time I'm learning about the Ocoee Massacre. I'm ashamed that this is our history...and I'm now embarrassed and even more ashamed that it's trying to be covered up. Our governor has to go.

If you don’t learn from your past, you’re bound to repeat it. It is crazy that people think they can teach lies in this age of mass communication.

So many ignorant republicans to allow him to spread his bigotry.

I can’t wait until these students are old enough to vote!

I, A white woman am disgusted by Desantis and anybody else trying to rewrite history and act like a black person's life and the challenges they've gone through are not important. I am truly sorry to my black brothers and sisters. ❤

Wow! as a black woman I never knew this has taken place we as black people need to open our eyes about our history. I"m definitely going to do more research on this.