Latest news with #ReconstructionEra
E&E News
2 days ago
- General
- E&E News
NPS expands network of sites that explore the post-Civil War era
The National Park Service has added seven locations around the U.S. to a nexus of museums and historical sites that help tell the story of the United States during and after the Civil War. The Reconstruction Era, dating between 1861 and 1900, 'is one of the most fascinating and misunderstood periods in American History and includes stories of freedom, education and self-determination,' the service said in a news release. 'We are very excited to work with these sites which are being added to the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network,' Park Superintendent Laura Waller said in a statement. 'They represent a wide variety of the types of institutions engaged in preserving the story of Reconstruction around the country.' Advertisement The places being added to the park service's Reconstruction Era National Historic Network include Tolson's Chapel, an African American church and cemetery in Maryland that was used as a school between 1866 and 1899.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Traveling exhibit at Langston Centre focuses on Black education
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — A traveling exhibit exploring the history of Black education in Tennessee will be on display at Johnson City's Langston Centre for most of the summer. 'Building a Bright Future: Black Communities and Rosenwald Schools in Tennessee' will be on display at the Langston Centre through July 29. The exhibit is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tri-Cities housing market still favors sellers, analyst says The Tennessee State Museum created the exhibit, which tells the story of Black education in the Volunteer State. The exhibit takes visitors from the Reconstruction Era to the present and also emphasizes the importance of the Rosenwald program in Tennessee. Rosenwald Schools were built across the South in the early 1900s, thanks to Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, to provide Black children with an education. Leadership at the Langston Centre said the Rosenwald program left a profound impact on Tennessee, including Northeast Tennessee. 'The majority of those schools came from Middle and West Tennessee, but there were some Rosenwald Schools built in East Tennessee,' said Adam Dickson, the multi-cultural engagement manager at the Langston Centre. 'So we think about Newport, even a couple in Sullivan County. Funds from the Rosenwald Trust were used to build the auditorium here at Langston High School, so there is a connection to Rosenwald Schools even in this part of the state.' According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, it is estimated that by 1928, one-third of the South's rural Black children and teachers were served by a Rosenwald School. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Historic Downtown Palatka church demolished
The City of Palatka a few days ago announced the temporary closure of some sidewalks downtown because 'the church located at 913 Reid Street will be demolished,' a city social media post states. To some, like Mischa Johns, a Putnam County archivist, it's more than a church. 'So gently announced as 'a church,' but it's not just 'a church,'' she stated in a Facebook post. 'It's over a century of history in our African American community and it's being razed ... We have failed this beautiful old church, and my heart is broken for another lost piece of history.' >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< The following is from Mt. Tabor Baptist Church's website Following the Civil War within the Reconstruction Era, the institution known as Mount Tabor First Baptist Church was officially established. The church was organized during a 'Wednesday Prayer Meeting,' on the 15th day of September, 1869, in Palatka, Florida. The original meeting place was in the 'Hudson Building' and the second meeting place was a nicely constructed 'Brush Arbor' (a rough, open-sided shelter constructed of vertical poles driven into the ground with additional long poles laid across the top as support for a roof of brush, cut branches or hay) built with the choicest shrubs. Within the first two years (1869-1871), three ministers, Reverend R. P. Bishop, Reverend Jones, and Reverend Samuel Small formed the ministerial council that ordained the first Deacons: Jackson Wright, Ned Hutchinson and James Arnold. Reverend William Bell served as the first regular pastor (1871-1889) and also served two subsequent pastorates (1896-1898) & (1900-1902). In 1887, during Reverend Bell's pastorate it became a reality for this band of Christian believers to leave the 'brush arbor' and the congregation relocated to a newly built wooden church edifice at 913 Reid Street in downtown Palatka, which was dedicated on May 18, 1888. In 1912, the church facility was rebuilt under the leadership of Reverend F.W. Wells. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
What is the purpose of Memorial Day? Answers vary greatly by age, new poll finds
For many Americans, Memorial Day is not what it used to be, according to new polling. In a Savanta survey, a majority of respondents, 52%, said the holiday — observed on the last Monday in May — 'has lost its original meaning.' However, 60% still said that Memorial Day is primarily about honoring fallen service members, though opinions varied greatly based on age. A large majority of those aged 60 and above, 76%, said honoring fallen soldiers is the main purpose of the holiday. Meanwhile, just 48% of 19- to 27-year-olds said the same. This disparity 'isn't entirely surprising,' according to Savanta, as younger generations are further removed from major wars, like World War II. Additionally, responses diverged by geographic region. A majority of respondents from the South, 63%, said Memorial Day is primarily about honoring soldiers, while just 48% of those in the Northeast said the same. A disproportionate share of U.S. service members come from the South, with the highest share from South Carolina, according to an analysis from Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs. Further, 40% of respondents said they 'look forward to reflecting on the purpose of the day,' and 62% said they think the holiday 'brings people together, regardless of background or beliefs.' The poll — which sampled 1,002 U.S. adults and has a margin of error of 3 percentage points — also asked respondents about how companies should handle the holiday. Fifty-one percent said they would prefer companies to donate part of their sales to veterans — as opposed to offering 'traditional discounts.' And 64% said they are more likely to buy from businesses owned by veterans. Nearly half of respondents, 48%, said 'brands and influencers should stay quiet on Memorial Day unless they're clearly acknowledging the military or the meaning behind the day.' And, when asked about how they will celebrate, most said they'd eat burgers (61%), while fewer chose hot dogs (50%) and potato salad (46%). However, many indicated they are feeling financial stress around the holiday, with just 22% feeling financially optimistic as summer kicks off. And most said they would keep any holiday travel affordable, with 45% staying with family or friends and just 18% staying at resorts or hotels. History of Memorial Day Memorial Day dates back over 100 years, with its roots in the Reconstruction Era. 'In the waning years of the Civil War (1861–1865) and immediately afterward, communities in the North and South, Black and White, decorated soldiers' graves with floral honors on springtime 'decoration days,'' according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The holiday, officially instituted via a 'Memorial Day Order' in 1868, was designated a national holiday in 1971. For decades, most presidents have observed Memorial Day by participating in ceremonies that honor fallen soldiers. In recent years, most have traveled to and given speeches at Arlington National Cemetery, located outside of Washington, D.C., the nation's largest military grave site. This year, in addition to delivering a speech, President Donald Trump wrote a lengthy post on Truth Social, in which he attacked his adversaries. 'HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY TO ALL,' he wrote, 'INCLUDING THE SCUM THAT SPENT THE LAST FOUR YEARS TRYING TO DESTROY OUR COUNTRY THROUGH WARPED RADICAL LEFT MINDS, WHO ALLOWED 21,000,000 MILLION PEOPLE TO ILLEGALLY ENTER OUR COUNTRY…'
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Political leaders use DEI as a smokescreen to roll back human and civil rights
Last week, the Department of Education slashed $1 billion in mental health funding for schools. A month prior, the Department of Justice cancelled a $26 million federal program designed to rebuild water infrastructure in a rural Alabama county where sewage regularly contaminates homes. In both instances, the administration justified these cuts by blaming one of their favorite culprits: DEI. This administration has repeatedly sought to attack and disparage DEI as 'woke ideology.' Using the DEI label as a smokescreen, our political leaders have mounted a profound assault on human and civil rights, from rescinding a ban on segregated workplace facilities to dismantling the Department of Justice's civil rights policies. These attacks threaten the very freedoms that Americans have fought to protect for decades. But while our current political landscape might feel unprecedented, opposition to DEI isn't new. The arguments made by critics mirror narratives that have been circulating for more than 150 years, dating back to the Reconstruction Era. Our ongoing fight for justice is essential, particularly as the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are deeply rooted in and inspired by the civil rights movement. Opponents of DEI often try to diminish or distort the intent of diversity, equity and inclusion. They relegate DEI to a single workplace program, or they portray these principles as discriminatory and unjust by claiming that DEI disregards merit and talent. These harmful narratives have been magnified through social media platforms and polarizing political rhetoric, creating misunderstanding and resistance to initiatives that are fundamentally created to foster fairness, representation and genuine equality of opportunity for all. Diversity, equity and inclusion extend far beyond mere business practices. They are foundational principles essential for building a fair and just society. DEI means supporting the 18 million veterans living in the U.S. by facilitating their successful reintegration and active participation in society. It means passing paid family and medical leave laws that allow parents to adequately care for their children. DEI means ensuring access, resources and opportunities for underrepresented students. It empowers all students to thrive, with programs like TRIO boosting college retention and making participants 47% more likely to earn an associate's and 18% more likely to earn a bachelor's degree. DEI encompasses initiatives such as the Community Services Block Grant, which serves more than 9 million individuals annually and provides underrepresented communities with safe and supportive housing and essential funding to enhance community well-being. DEI ensures that individuals with disabilities receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs, whether that's wheelchair ramps or keyboard navigation for visually impaired individuals. The list goes on. Ultimately, these initiatives benefit society as a whole by ensuring that every person not only survives but thrives. They promote the active participation of all individuals in our global economy and correct unjust systems. They foster the creation of inclusive systems designed explicitly to address and rectify historical inequalities and exclusion. So why would anyone oppose these measures? It's a question we'll keep confronting as we work through the challenges of implementing meaningful and sustainable change. Challenges will always arise, but it's our response that will define this moment. As a human rights advocate, I work at a nonprofit named after former attorney general Bobby Kennedy. In one of his most famous speeches, Sen. Kennedy reminded us of the power of individual action: "Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.' These ripples, collectively, can build a current that sweeps away the barriers of oppression and resistance. By standing by the principles of DEI, human rights and civil rights, we — be it business leaders, teachers, politicians, civil society advocates, investors, and individuals — can create a more just and peaceful world. Fanta NGom is the director of business and human rights at Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights. She lives in Austin. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Politicians use DEI as a smokescreen to roll back rights | Opinion
