COMMENTARY: Celebrate the history of resilience

DAVID REUTHER Gov. Ron DeSantis and Gov. Glenn Youngkin share the realization that African American history can be tough. They and some Republican dominated states are eagerly passing laws that forbid teaching a history that might make some children uncomfortable. Those who worry about the fragility of some children’s egos miss the part of American history about the resilience of the Black community in the face of violence and discrimination. DeSantis has led the Florida legislature in a grand crusade to eliminate, iron out or minimize African American contributions to American history. No night riders, no murdered voter registrations, no church bombings, no fire hoses that can strip the clothes off people. It is a futile effort to hide the facts. Those dates and events are well told in the National Museum of African American History and Culture or the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, informally known as the National Lynching Memorial. What these history ironers really resist is any sharing of what African Americans think about their experience. This would include banning books by Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Ta-Nehisi Paul Coates, perhaps even banning August Wilson plays. People are also reading… This approach misses the opportunity to acknowledge...