Parent Wants KKK Founder’s Name Removed from Fla. Black High School

Afro ^ | 9/12/13 | Zenitha Prince

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A Jacksonville, Fla. father is waging a campaign to change the name of a school that was named after Nathan Bedford Forrest, a slave trader and the first “grand wizard” of the Klu Klux Klan.

Omotoya Richmond is the originator of the fast-growing petition on Change.org that has amassed more than 77,000 signatures at last count on Sept. 12.

The Long Island, N.Y. transplant told the AFRO he did not want his 7-year-old daughter—or any other child—who may eventually matriculate at a high school in Duval County, to have to attend a school named after someone whose legacy is that of hate.

“Now is the time to right a historical wrong. African American Jacksonville students shouldn't have to attend a high school named for someone who slaughtered and terrorized their ancestors one more school year,” Richmond wrote in his petition. “In the end, I want my child to be able to go anywhere in Jacksonville and be proud of where she is. That can't happen with Nathan Bedford Forrest High School.”

Forrest High got its name in 1959, when it was founded with White-only students. In the decades since then, the school has been integrated, and its student body is majority African-American.

Forrest, a Confederate general during the Civil War, was one of the most polarizing figures of that era. He is most remembered for slaughtering Black soldiers of the U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery at Fort Pillow, near Memphis, after they had already surrendered. After the gruesome execution, “Remember Fort Pillow” became a rallying-cry for African-American soldiers throughout the Union Army, according to a Civil War website.

“I think it’s horrible to be associated with that, especially in a majority-Black school,” Richmond said. “I can’t do anything about terrorism in Syria and Iraq, but I can do something here in Duval County.”

Richmond has to amass at least 10,000 signatures from local residents for the school board to consider changing the name. Five years ago, the School Advisory Council requested that the school be renamed, but the school board voted 5-2 against it. The board’s membership has since changed.

The Jacksonville campaigner said he is buoyed by the outpouring of support.

“There are many former and current students who agree with me and are signing my petition. This is a community issue, and we're showing that the community is ready for change."

Among those who commented on the Change.org petition was Jacksonville parent Dawn B., who said, “My son is a senior at Forrest HS. I was watching a documentary about this KKK leader and was disgusted that my son, who is Black attends a school named after a man who murdered and victimized many Blacks in his lifetime.”

Jacksonville native Vanessa W., added, “There is so much power in a name and, unfortunately, the potency in Nathan B Forrest High School’s name is detrimental to our students and community….To celebrate a legacy rooted in separation and hatred is to completely undermine all the values we seek to instill in our young scholars. As a product of Duval County Public Schools and current public school teacher, I challenge governing bodies to create a better future by honoring a less shameful past.”

Signatures on the petition are delivered via e-mail to Duval County School District Superintendent Nikolai Vitti, who said in a recent interview with NPR that he “would support a name change recommendation if brought organically to the [school] board by the community.”

[Jack of all Trades]

Did i miss in the article where is pointed out that Forrest was a DEMOCRAT?

[AU72]

Waiting to here from the hundreds of Senator Byrd Schools in WVA.

[Borges]

Ahem

[mrsmel]

“transplant from New York” God I’m glad, thrilled, ecstatic that no one wants to move to my state. Outsiders have come in and instigated problems, sure enough, but at least they leave, and usually pretty fast. Good, Stinking liberal carpetbaggers.

[Stosh]

I’m not enough of a history buff to comment authoritatively on the issue, but if you’re interested on “the other side of the story”:

http://dixieoutfitters.com/p/forrest-kkk-a-myth

[9YearLurker]

I think that’s a fair request.

[JudyinCanada]

There’s a shocker - if they want to “right” the “wrongs” of slavery, why are they voting Democrat? It makes no sense...except maybe there’s more handouts from the Dems. Never mind.

[9YearLurker]

And just that quickly, you changed my mind.

Thanks.

[LambSlave]

Seriously? There are few Americans greater than Nathan Bedford Forrest, and fewer American military leaders with such aptitude at the operational and tactical level of warfare. If his name isn’t good enough for these people, perhaps they should go to a different school.

[Responsibility2nd]

Sure. OK. Whatever.

Just change the name to Barack Hussein Obama Elementary School and all will be fine.

[null and void]

Had we lived in Jax for 6 more months I would have gone to that very school, it was well thought of then.

(I did go to a Jr High named after the President of the Confederacy...)

[justlurking]

He is most remembered for slaughtering Black soldiers of the U.S. Colored Heavy Artillery at Fort Pillow, near Memphis, after they had already surrendered.

That bastion of conservative thought -- Wikipedia -- has this to say about Forrest:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Bedford_Forrest

Forrest was accused of war crimes at the Battle of Fort Pillow for allowing forces under his command to conduct a massacre upon hundreds of black Union Army and white Southern Unionist prisoners. Union Major General William T. Sherman investigated the allegations and did not charge Forrest with any improprieties.

[DoodleDawg]

The Long Island, N.Y. transplant told the AFRO he did not want his 7-year-old daughter—or any other child—who may eventually matriculate at a high school in Duval County, to have to attend a school named after someone whose legacy is that of hate.

Maybe he should worry more about the large percentage of students who won't be matriculating from Forrest High and less about the fact that it is called Forrest High?

[Standing Wolf]

Did i miss in the article where is pointed out that Forrest was a DEMOCRAT?

I have a hunch that's on a need to know basis, Jack of all Trades, and our self-appointed moral and intellectual superiors of the "news" media have decided we don't.

[Dilbert San Diego]

Name it Trayvon Martin Memorial High School. There, will that help the self esteem of Negro students????

[yoe]

"...Outsiders have come in and instigated problems..."

Texas and Gov. Perry had better take note.....

[Jack of all Trades]

The history of the KKK, that it was founded as the paramilitary arm of the Democrat party to harass and Republicans and freed slaves and to force people to vote democrat, has largely gone down the memory hole. The dems have found an easier way to fence in the plantation - welfare.

[Pan_Yan]

A thread about ignorance, media bias, racism and the civil war? In Floriduh to boot?

This one should generate some responses.

[MeshugeMikey]

I have LOOKED at Omotoya Richmond Fazedbook page. WHile doing research on such a surface level doesnt often provide MUCH in the way of real substance I CAN say,,,i say i CAN SAY that even without READING anthing posted BY Omotoya that certain SIGNS made it apparent that he is as they say....TRIPPIN

IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN

my guess is that Omotoya could have been a member of Obama's CHOOM GANG!!!

IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN