Not that I have to explain, or justify my involvement/actions regarding this issue, let me say right here and right now, it's not about a name change. It's about a culture and a climate of disrespect for the black community in Huntsville, Alabama.
What's in a name? Ask the powers that be at Huntsville City Schools. In their haste to kill democracy and fairness the Huntsville City School Board of Education, under the ruthless command of Superintendent Casey WARdynski declared
"From now on, this land will be ruled by the Tigers. We are, after all, the strongest, fastest and wisest of all animals. Therefore, we are the only fit rulers." they claimed.Despite petitions, marches, and protest the Huntsville City School BOE decided they are the rulers and the people be damned. If the BOE spent half as much time trying to scheme their way out from under the federal desegregation order and furthering their political careers ensuring that ALL children had equal access to a quality public school, Huntsville would be One City One Vision and companies would be begging to locate here.
A little mouse spoke up from the crowd, " But we have a council where we make our decisions together, we don't need or want any ruler." One of the tigers let out a roar so loud and fierce that the poor mouse started running and didn't stop until he was in the land of the humans. To this day, he lives in the houses of humans.
Slapping a new name on the outside of the school building won't change what's happening on the inside of the building. The taxpayers have the right to self determination, instead they are being punished for it.
For those who say it's not about race, I say J.O.Johnson is predominately black school and the only school being forced to change it's name and lose it's legacy and it's heritage.
For those who say I don't live in the district therefore I have no right to complain, I say I pay state, local, and federal taxes which grants me the right and the privilege to complain about what I want to when I want to.
For those who say I don't spend time volunteering in the schools, reading to children, etc. I say been there done that, but at the end of the day Huntsville City School's is still trying to locate a new $65 million dollar school renamed after a former black astronaut less than half a mile from an active rock quarry.
For those who say there are already two schools, a recreational park and homes located even closer to an active rock quarry, I say two wrongs don't make a right, we didn't know then what we know now, and a lot of people didn't know their homes were located near the rock quarry until they heard the first sonic dynamite boom, and those who could, moved away from the area, to the detriment of those who couldn't move.
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
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