Critique minimized the Black impact on US history
The Heritage Foundation’s Simon Hankinson’s critique of those criticizing Florida’s new standards for teaching about slavery does its own job of minimizing the impact of African Americans in our nation’s history. He writes that when he taught history to seventh graders, they learned that “some free Blacks … died alongside the 600,000 white Americans in the Civil War …”
That is a woefully inadequate and inaccurate statement. He apparently neglected to teach that at the end of the war, one-fourth of the U.S. Army was African American, or that 180,000 African Americans fought in the conflict. That is quite a few more than “some … Blacks.” No wonder he thought the criticism of the Florida curriculum was overblown. Perhaps we can soon read his defense of Florida now banning the AP psychology course. And coming soon? Perhaps Florida will also ban teaching AP physics or biology courses because they call into question fundamentalist Christian Young Earth Creationist narratives.
The Rev. David Meredith Hindman, Williamsburg
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Kiwanis Shrimp Feast to raise money for community
The Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg will hold its 42nd annual Shrimp Feast on Sept. 9 from 4-7 p.m. at Jamestown Settlement. All you can eat shrimp, hush puppies, coleslaw, beans, soda and water are included. Beer and wine will be sold separately. Attendees will enjoy the sounds of brasswind at this family-friendly event.
All money raised from this event will be given back to community organizations that are helping to carry out the Kiwanis mission of improving the world, one child and one community at a time, starting right here in Williamsburg. Each year, the club selects “Headliners” — the recipients of the dollars raised through fundraising events and a donation from the club’s foundation. The 2023-24 recipients include:
• The DeGood Foundation/Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which will expand their efforts to Williamsburg/James City County to mail one free, brand new, age-appropriate book each month to children ages 0-5 from the time they are born until they begin kindergarten, regardless of income.
• FISH, a nonprofit that provides food, clothing and small housewares to people in need living in Williamsburg, James City County and York County, will use funds to meet the ever-growing needs for hunger relief and providing clothing, especially for children.
• The Williamsburg Boat Club provides a high-quality rowing experience in a positive environment to help build life skills, physical exercise and college readiness and opportunities, and will use the funds to offer partial scholarships for children of military families living in the community.
• Williamsburg Regional Library will use the funds received to expand their Kiwanis Kids Idea Studio to an outside play area at the Norge location.
Funds raised will also support Kiwanis Service Leadership Programs, K-Kids and the Bug Program in elementary schools, Builders Club in middle school, Key Club in high schools, CKI at William & Mary and AKTION Club supporting adults with disabilities.
Tickets to the Shrimp Feast are available online at williamsburgkiwanis.org. Everyone who attends makes a difference in the lives of children of our community.
Mike Rock and Geoff Suter, Shrimp Feast co-chairs
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Time for everyone to listen to Jesus
A man named Jesus said: He who lives by the sword will die by the sword. He said: You have been taught an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
Today, we use guns and missiles to kill each other. I believe Jesus came to show us how to live. I believe it is time for us to obey all of the teachings of Jesus.
Morton Miles, Williamsburg
