The Docket - February 2023 | Page 22

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Recognizing

The Past and Present That Shapes Our Future

by Forest Sutton , Esq . Office of the State Attorney , 12th Circuit

“ Do not get lost in a sea of despair . Be hopeful , be optimistic . Our struggle is not the struggle of a day , a week , a month , or a year , it is the struggle of a lifetime . Never , ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble , necessary trouble .”

- John Lewis , Civil Rights Activist

Black History Month is a period to celebrate and explore the accomplishments of black Americans throughout the history of our nation . But each year , Black History Month also focuses on a particular theme within black culture . While we can never ignore the many contributions from numerous sources that have paved the way towards the America we live in today , focusing on different aspects of black culture allows for a deeper understanding of the lives of black Americans . In 2023 , we celebrate Black Resistance ! While black history is marred with struggle , this month highlights what that struggle has birthed : a culture of resilience and endurance .

Even after the abolishment of slavery , black Americans endured oppression in the form of Black Codes and Jim Crow laws which promoted segregation and the ideology of ‘ separate but equal .’ Lynchings and hate crimes perpetrated by white groups ( like the Rosewood Massacre not far from Sarasota ’ s doorstep ) which held black families in constant fear of harm or death .

Systemic forms of oppression such as steering and redlining practices which continue to limit the development and wealth of black communities today . Implicit bias in medical practices which have led to nearly 3x the mortality rate among black women during childbirth as compared to white women . And ongoing implicit biases in the criminal justice system leading to blacks being killed in police-involved shootings at more than twice the rate of white Americans or being imprisoned at 5x the rate despite making up a significantly lower percentage of the population .

Just putting those few examples of struggle on paper , I find myself perplexed at how black culture has not been whittled to the bone . Despite the obstacles , black Americans have marched and fought to hold the U . S . to the standards promised in the Constitution . By creating support through civil rights organizations such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP ), Congress of Racial Equality ( CORE ), Black Lives Matter ( BLM ), and other groups , black Americans have advocated for changes in law and policy . We have promulgated Historically Black Colleges and Universities ( HBCUs ) to build opportunity and a sense of community for blacks that we otherwise would not be

22 | THE DOCKET - FEBRUARY 2023