BLACK TENNESSEE VOICES

NAACP issued travel advisory for Florida. Should it happen in in the Volunteer State too?

Nashville Tennessean

Good morning, guys!

Congratulations on a successful week! You're doing great!

It was a concerning to learn last week that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People issued a travel advisory for the Florida after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation defunding diversity programs at the state’s public colleges and universities.

"Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals," the travel notice reads. "Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color."

This is only the second time that the NAACP has issued a travel advisory to a state. The first time was back in 2017, when Missouri passed a law that raised the legal difficulty to sue businesses for discrimination on the basis of race, religion, or gender.

Indian River County NAACP President Anthony Brown speaks at a school board meeting on Monday, Feb. 27, 2023, in Vero Beach. “When you objectively look at the recent attacks on education in Florida,” Brown said, “One must admit they all appear to be racially motivated, at a minimum, or have racial undertones.” Brown, along with other members of the public, spoke on a variety of issues concerning the school district, some with support of Indian River School Board member Peggy Jones and Brian Barefoot who were recently targeted by Gov. Ron DeSantis for not supporting parents rights.

I can't help but to think: Would Tennessee be the third state on the travel advisory list?

On May 18, the Sullivan County Commission voted to pass the Tennessee General Assembly’s designation of Juneteenth as an official holiday and to make it a paid holiday for county employees.

But before the vote took place, Commissioner Joe Carr wanted to share his thoughts.

“I just think Juneteenth is a woke holiday and we shouldn’t give these people an inch,” Carr said. “No one in Sullivan County is in favor of this, almost nobody. The only people this is going to please is the same people that were in Nashville, in our Capitol, causing an insurrection and assaulting state troopers. So I’m voting ‘no’ on this.”

The motion was passed by a 17-4 vote, so, in fact, people in Carr's community are in favor of Juneteenth. Instead of checking his facts before comparing a peaceful protest that had no injuries or fatalities to an attack on our nation's capital that left five people dead, he attempted to divide a community.

What I didn't hear from Carr's words were any indication that he spoke to the 2.5% of Black people who make up Sullivan County. Also, no surprise here, he didn't provide a definition of woke.

What does a peaceful protest about gun violence have to do with a celebration of enslaved people being freed?

Those words aren't just heard by the over 2,000 Black residents of Sullivan County, they are felt by Black Tennesseans across this state. This type of vitriol is what keeps others from coming here and enjoying our beloved state.

If this hatred continues to spread, the NAACP would be in their right mind to issue a travel advisory for Tennessee.

But let's hope it doesn't get to that point.

What else is in the BTV newsletter this week:

Earlier this week pop and rock n' roll icon Tina Turner passed away at the age of 83. Check out five connections Turner had with Tennessee that you might not have known.
Get to know Nashville mayoral candidate Vivian Wilhoite with a questionnaire exclusive to the Tennessean. Wilhoite has served Nashville as a two-term District Councilmember and is in her second-termed as Davidson County Assessor of Property.
In his latest Knox News column, Robert Booker shows off his movie knowledge and shares how the Hollywood image changes throughout history.
Dr. Serena McClam Liebengood was the wife to Howard “Howie” Liebengood, a Capitol police officer who was at the Jan 6 riot. Liebengood shares life with Howard after the riot, when he chose to take his own life.

It is hot every day now so I guess it is finally summer. The only upside is that it's Renaissance Festival time! I'll be at the local festival this weekend, so if you see me, please say hello!

Have a great weekend guys!

Blessings!

LeBron Hill is an opinion columnist for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee and the curator of the Black Tennessee Voices newsletter and Instagram account. Feel free to contact him at LHill@gannett.com or 615-829-2384. Find him on Twitter at @hill_bron or Instagram at @antioniohill12.