Today, Florida Senator Shevrin Jones (SD-35) released the following statement regarding Black History Month:
Throughout our nation’s history, Black Americans have displayed incredible courage, creativity, and resilience, and made innumerable contributions to the American story. As we mark the start of Black History Month, it is imperative that we each take time to honor the accomplishments of those who came before us, reflect upon the suffering of our past, while also facing the injustices that persist in communities across the country.
Black history is American history, and for us to truly live up to the ideals of this nation, this month is a call to action to advocate for those in our society who are so often marginalized and treated as less than. Now more than ever, we have a responsibility to honor Black lives with more than just lip service via empty words or posts on social media, for one month out of the year or when an individual is brutally slain. We must act and do our part consistently, 365 days a year, to ensure that every community can live with dignity and has equitable access to good-paying jobs, quality healthcare, educational opportunities, and can exercise their most fundamental rights as an American by having their voices heard at the ballot box.
As my colleagues advance bills that seek to rewrite our history and attempt to ban the difficult conversations about race and the long-term impacts of slavery and patriarchy on current social, economic, and political realities, I implore every American to reflect, confront the cruel injustices inflicted upon Black Americans both yesterday and today, and join us in the work ahead to build a more equal, just future for all.
Originally published at https://www.flsenate.gov/Media/PressReleases/Show/4354
