David Marshall: The fight for lasting tolerance and inclusion

The 1947 and 1956 editions of the ‘Green Book,’ which was published to advise Black motorists where they should – and shouldn’t – frequent during their travels. Image on the left: Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library. Image on right: Courtesy of the South Carolina Library, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. by David Marshall (TriceEdneyWire.com)—Last year, the NAACP Board of Directors issued a formal travel advisory for the state of Florida. The advisory was issued in direct response to the restrictive policies concerning Florida’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs led by Gov. Ron DeSantis. So far, the efforts to encourage people to avoid Florida as a vacation spot have had little impact on the state’s tourism. Orlando remains the most-visited city in the United States. While travelers may be fully opposed to the state’s controversial policies, individuals and families do not favor altering their vacation destinations. Vacationing at popular theme parks such as Disney World can become a safe escape from the constant negativity and polarization caused by daily politics. “Travel has always transcended politics,” said Stacy Ritter, the president and chief executive of Visit Lauderdale, the...