Fed up with Florida legislators, faith leaders create Black history program for churches

Speaking to the congregation, Jackson referenced one of his favorite the books from the toolkit, “The Mis-Education of the Negro” by Carter Godwin Woodson. The 1933 book offers a critique of America’s education system, explaining how African American children, at the time, were being indoctrinated with concepts of inferiority in society.

“It’s up to us to provide them with a relevant and empowering education, to remind them that essentially God doesn’t make any mess,” Jackson Jr. said. “When we do our job in teaching our children and the younger generations what God has done for us, then they can turn around and say ‘if God did it for them, surely God can do it for us right now.’”

The pastor then asked the congregation to look around the room and pointed out that some of the older members there may have lived during segregation in Jim Crow era.

“There are some of you all here today that you remember seeing the signs of ‘colored water fountain’ and the white water fountain. Is there anyone brave enough to say ‘I remember that.’” Several hands went up in the church. “You all are living history,” he said.

When New Shiloh was approached by Faith in Florida last year about the toolkit, church leaders immediately jumped on board.

“It was really amazing because we were we were met with such great excitement that we did not necessarily expect,” Jackson Jr. said. “The room was packed with people and children and adults wanting to just know more.”

Faith in Florida executive director Thomas, who grew up in Miami-Dade, said this project has given her a chance to reflect on her own history. In 1966, she remembers that her first grade class was the first to be allowed to eat in the cafeteria at her school in Liberty City.

“My mother in law, who still has her ID that she needed to show to go on Miami Beach, just to work as a housekeeper,” Thomas said. “Black people understanding that we needed to be across that bridge before the sunset. And now South Beach is open to any and every one.”

For many South Florida congregations like New Shiloh, the toolkit has opened the door for faith leaders to have candid conversations about Black history and share their own stories with younger generations. The toolkit has its own section for Florida history, including resources on incidents like the 1920 Ocoee Massacre and the killing of Arthur Lee McDuffie at the hands of Miami-Dade police officers in 1979.

Jackson Jr. said his experience growing up in Coconut Grove — a historically Black area first settled by Bahamians in the 19th century — is an example of how Miami’s Black history can sometimes feel forgotten.

“Ever since I was a kid, I was taught that Coconut Grove was Bahamian founded, and has a rich Bahamian heritage there,” Jackson Jr. said. “As years have gone on, Coconut Grove today does not look like Coconut Grove that I grew up in ... and with that, what I’ve seen is that the history account has also been changing. And it has become more whitewashed.”