Gemini One Films in association with Private Side Media

presents WE REMEMBER RAINES , a documentary about the history and legacy of William M Raines High School, Jacksonville, FL

Exclusive Premiere: WE Remember Raines February 25, 2012 – 7:00p

William M Raines Auditorium Jacksonville, FL

http://www.facebook.com/events/324810967557072/

http://werememberraines.tumblr.com

Director: Emanuel Washington
… Executive Director: Andrew Wright
Narrators: Ben Frazier and GeneDotCom
Photography: Tamica Jackson and Donnell Bennett
Assistant Director/Producer: Diallo Sekou
Film Editor: Maxie Coleman
Music Director: Tony White
Theme Song: Tru.Ski The Transmitter
Graphic Design: E. Street Paperie

For more information contact ewashington@nokturnalescape.com or call (904) 465-6891

sponsored by
Nokturnal Escape Entertainment, LLC http://www.nokturnalescape.com/
Eartha MM White Legacy Fund http://www.jaxcf.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=530
Jacksonville Free Press http://jacksonvillefreepress.com/
“Still Raines”
William M Raines High School National Alumni Association
Blinkvirtualbuzz.com http://blinkvirtualbuzz.com/

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WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama and former first lady Laura Bush will celebrate the groundbreaking for a new national museum showcasing black life, art and history on the National Mall.

The Smithsonian Institution announced Wednesday that Obama will speak at the Feb. 22 groundbreaking for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Actress Phylicia Rashad will host the event.

Early construction work has already begun at the museum site near the Washington Monument. Officials have said the museum is on track to open in 2015. Congress has pledged to provide half the cost of the $500 million museum project.

Designers for the project have been planning a layered bronze structure with a stone base.

Bush serves on the museum’s advisory council with Oprah Winfrey, Quincy Jones and others.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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(the words below were delivered to each member of D.C.P.S. School Board on Febraury 9, 2012)

In the distant past Ecclesiastes 1&9 foretold “ … there is no new thing under the Sun.

“ With a stern emphasis on ‘NO’; these words have never moved from their original points of wisdom. Knowledge of such words to live by; should ideally add comfort to our advertised lives here in Sunny Florida. But, here; we are still found restless. Too often, we are insatiable towards material gains and newly developed philosophies. Newness, constantly diverts our attention. We naively face obstacles; which, were successfully overcome generations ago. We, suffer; by, not learning from our past; we stumble; by, merely not following those who came before us; those, ones who have endured; to, provide us with elementary conveniences of simply tracing their prov en paths. So, why do we continue to ignore key words of antiquity and well known education trailblazers through our perpetual attempts to reinvent the wheel within Duval County Public Schools?

Local actions of insubordination to national educational norms; were exhibited during the aftermath of the landmark case Brown Vs. The Board of Education. A decade following this national benchmark Duval County Public Schools had yet to recognized that our district; too had to follow this desegregation mandate. In 1965, Duval County’s reluctance to integrate was evident; our, stubbornness prompted the covert existence of two separate school systems; which, had one for white students and one for black students. Duval’s open refusal to desegregate resembled the adage of “ cutting your nose off in spite of your face “; sadly, this local sentiment led to all county schools suffering from unthinkable conditions; so, much so that in December of 1964 the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools moved to dis-accredit all of Duval County’s High Schools.

To term this period as Duval’s ‘Dark Ages’ is an understatement. In comparison, our current educational challenges poise only a flicker to the hell experienced during this period. Spontaneously, this period in a dynamic manner; did provide whoever persevered its peril with obsolete fortitude and ingenuity on how to succeed through any future hurdles. To experience and succeed this period would distance one educator from many. An over-comer, of this period would have earned an incomparable pedagogy mind; which, could afford those who ventured after-wards with timeless examples and consistent prov en results; of how to excel at every stage of education; of how to surpass every benchmark placed before them; and, how to shed central lights of wisdom that would successfully transcend each level of The Florida Department of Education’s scope.

Fortunately, there was one who triumphed this period. Florida’s horizon brought with it a source of much needed light and educational wisdom; which, came from none other than our illustrious first principal and brilliant patriarch Dr. Andrew A. Robinson Jr. of The William M. Raines Sr. High School. Let us remember; that, given the landscape, and, uncharted waters; Dr. Robinson made ways for Raines; when, there were none. He accomplished this being accountable; not, accepting excuses from his staff neither his students. With a motivating cry of ‘ICHIBAN’; and, “Knowledge Is Power”; Dr. Robinson led Raines in 1968 to become The First accredited Duval County High School. Dr. Robinson’s resilience left vivid blueprints and consensus admirers of whatever he put his hands on; former Governor Bob Graham affirms this when he notes in his February 13, 1985 congratulatory letter that; “ William M. Raines Senior High School has set a magnificent example for other educational institutions throughout our State”. In true genius fashion Dr. Robinson repeated his educational feats where ever he went. Dr. Robinson spear headed the early berthing of what The University of North Florida has blossom into today; he, championed U.N.F.’s College of Education and Human Services to its first accreditation in 1987, as well.

Respectfully, this is not the half of what Dr. Robinson has sewed; for, us to reap from. Knowing, Dr. Robinson’s prov en acclaim; we must ask; why, are we still in pursuit of our next educational Saviour? Why, are we exhausting costly funds in visiting the latest brands of consultations; and, not revisiting Dr. Robinson’s archived council? Our recent experimentation’s; have at best; led to our schools existing within a feast or famine paradigm; and, not the appellate court’s envisioned unitary status. We currently aspire to address the whole student. If this, is our true desire; then, would not it be better if we revisited Dr. Robinson’s holistic approach of fortifying institutions; by, ensuring that all appropriate compliments of a given school are in place and active to assure a high standard of education. Dr. Robinson, addressed every aspect of Florida’s educational community. Dr. Robinson’s wisdom was not hoarded; we all have access and free will to utilize his sound plans. Let us, remember that the very two most public promotions of Duval County Schools are our College Preparatory and Magnet School Programs; both, concepts are benefits of Dr. Robinson’s brainchild. So, as “We Remember Raines” debuts on Saturday February 25th 2012 at 7pm in Raines’ Auditorium; let us, also continue to remember Dr. Robinson’s impact on our educational landscape. Let us, properly revisit, reinstate and proactively implement his unparalleled educational mind into our future plans. Let us, acknowledge Dr. Robinson more than we have; as our constant reminder; so, if we were ever to lose our course of achieving for all students; his, examples could restore our guidance. Let us, make a motion to use Dr. Robinson’s varied educational wisdom; so, that our educational directions may not be diverted; in order to assure our goals are experienced; through, our respectful following of Dr. Andrew A. Robinson Jr.’s already prov en, beaten path. Thank you; and, take care!

*****************************Also, we would like to acknowledge Brenda Jackson ’71 for her recent “A Silken Thread” nomination in the Literature Category of The 43 rd Annual NAACP Image Awards! (airs Live Friday Feb. 17 th on NBC) NAACP members may vote for Ms. Jackson ’71 using Unit #5105; and, clicking here http://www.naacpimageawards.net/43/nominees-and-honorees/cast-your-vote/ …

And, recognize Atty. A. Wellington Barlow ’79; for becoming the First Historical, Judicial Candidate to collect the required petitions to run in Clay, Duval and Nassau Counties; Mr. Barlow ’79 gained (7,003) valid petitions! www.barlowforjudge.com…

We salute; as well, our longest tenured principal Mr. Jimmie A. Johnson for his particular preservation of Dr. Robinson’s vision(s); his, achievements and worthy service to William M. Raines and D.C.P.S. in his upcoming dedication of A Street Marker named in his honor, Jimmie Johnson Parkway. This celebration takes place on Thursday February 16, 2012, 11:30am at William M. Raines’ Campus.

Everyone, Every Viking is Invited!!!

BCN – Mobile Global Media

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Kingsley Heritage Celebration 2012:  The War of Jubilee

Jacksonville, FL:  The National Park Service invites the public to the 14th Annual Kingsley Heritage Celebration.  This year the event focuses on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, which was called by many as the War of Jubilee.  This tumultuous time in our history signaled the end of bondage for more than four million enslaved African Americans.  In this conflict, African Americans fought as soldiers, worked as spies, and spoke out against the horrors of slavery.  This years celebration honors the role of African Americans in the Civil War as our nation remembers this important anniversary.

Special afternoon events will be held on February 18th and 25th, and are sponsored by the National Park Services Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve.  These events are free and open to the public.  The goal of this annual celebration is to allow the local community to explore cultural traditions found in modern American society that originated during the plantation period.

These events are a celebration of the determination and perseverance of the human spirit to survive against incredible odds, explains Superintendent Barbara Goodman.  The goal is to present this history in meaningful ways to our community. The arts have united people through the ages, and it will help us learn more about our shared history through the cultural influences that we hear and see every day.

Surrounded by ancient live oaks and stately palms, Kingsley Plantation overlooks the Fort George River on Fort George Island in the Timucuan Preserve. The rich and diverse history of the plantation includes the story of wealthy English planter Zephaniah Kingsley and his wife Anna Madgigine Jai, who was born in Senegal and purchased by Kingsley as a slave. The history also includes the stories of the men, women, and children who struggled to survive enslavement, in an era when wealth was sometimes measured in human property.

Kingsley Plantation is a unit of the National Park Services Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville. Zephaniah Kingsley owned and operated a 1,000-acre plantation on the island during the first half of the nineteenth century. In addition to the scheduled events, visitors may also visit the grounds that include the original plantation house, kitchen house, barn, and the remains of 25 tabby slave cabins.  The Plantation house is itself Floridas oldest standing (1798) plantation era structure.

The grounds offer perhaps the most graphic evidence of slave living quarters and daily life experiences in the state, if not the South.

Located off Heckscher Drive/A1A one-half mile north of the St. Johns River ferry landing, Kingsley Plantation is open daily, at no charge, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.  For more information, call 904.251.3537, or go to http://www.nps.gov/timu, where you can access this full text press release and detailed biographies of the presenters and performers.

Details of the events are as follows:

Saturday, February 18:

1:30 p.m. – Rose Person, a Harriet Tubman reenactor, will recite poetry and explain Harriet Tubmans role in the Civil War as a spy, nurse, and occasional laundress, including her role in the Civil War events of Jacksonville.  Ms. Persons performances with the Tubman African American Museum have been lauded as deeply moving.

2:00 p.m. – Sparky and Rhonda Rucker, folk musicians, will present their poignant performance  The Blue and Gray in Black and White,  the story of the Civil War told through music and song. In over forty years of performing, Sparky and Rhonda have performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and the Smithsonian Folklife Festival as well as NPR’s On Point, Prairie Home Companion, Mountain Stage, and Morning Edition.

Kids Corner:  Throughout the day, park staff will present childrens activities relating to the Civil War and the Underground Railroad.  Kids will be able to design their own drums, make a rag doll to take home and even send secret messages like Civil War spies.

The Kingsley Plantation Main House will be open for viewing from 10 am until 1:30 pm.

Saturday, February 25:

1:00 p.m. -54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first all-black regiment of the Civil War, a group of soldiers that paved the way for other black men to join the Union army, in the form of the United States Colored Troops (USCT), will be the topic of the day.

Volunteers from the local reenacting group, which portrays the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, will be on hand to discuss the experiences of the first all-black regiment of the Civil War.  The original regiment spent time in Northeast Florida during the Civil War.

Park rangers and volunteers in period costumes will demonstrate various tasks involved in the operation of a large plantation.  Demonstrations will include cooking, spinning, weaving, dyeing with indigo, woodworking, and gardening.

For more information, please call Kingsley Plantation at (904) 251-3537 or visit http://www.nps.gov/timu.

Like us on Facebook at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve and follow us on Twitter @TimucuanNPS.

Best Wishes,
Emily Palmer, Park Guide
Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Kingsley Plantation
11676 Palmetto Ave.
Jacksonville, FL 32226
(904) 251-3537-office
(904) 251-3577-fax
Emily_Palmer@nps.gov

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As America celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. ‘s birthday this week and is getting ready to celebrate Black History Month in February, I have reflected on the state of liberalism and its impact on the Black community and have concluded that I am very confused!

What am I confused about? Before Obama’s election as president, no one thought we would ever see a Black person elected president because of racism.

Since Obama has been elected president, can one reasonably postulate that racism has become less of an issue? If the answer is no, then how do you explain Obama’s election? Remember, conventional wisdom was that America was too racist and would never elect a Black president (and remember, whites are still a majority of the electorate, so therefore, there were a lot of whites who voted for Obama).

If the answer is yes, then why do liberals constantly blame the plight of Blacks on racism? You can’t have it both ways.

So, whites are too racist to care about the plight of Blacks, but no longer too racist to vote for a Black candidate for president?

Is it white America’s fault that they helped elect a Black president that took almost two years before he met with the Congressional Black Caucus (despite meeting with gay and Hispanic groups sooner and more frequently); is it white America’s fault that they helped elect a Black president who told the CBC last September to “stop complaining” [about him not doing anything for the Black community]; is it white America’s fault that they helped elect a Black president who has fewer Blacks in his administration than George W. Bush?

Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver (from Kansas City, MO and Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus) famously said last year, “if Obama was white, we would be marching on the White House.” Cleaver was making reference to Obama not paying attention to the Black community.

Here you have the first Black president of the U.S. who is doing everything in his power to ignore the very community that gave him 96% of their vote. And people like Cleaver are giving Obama a pass simply because he Black?

Why was there no outcry from the NAACP, the Urban League, Al Sharpton, or Jesse Jackson about Cleaver’s racist comment? So, it’s racist when a white person in power ignores the Black community, but it’s ok if a Black person in power does the same thing?

King fought and died for the principles he believed in. King constantly criticized both Kennedy brothers over civil rights; he constantly criticized Johnson over Vietnam. I can’t imagine King giving Obama a pass simply because he was Black. His moral compass would not have allowed him to remain silent.

Cleaver, and those who think like him, does a great disservice to everything that King stood for.

There are more Black elected officials than ever before, but the pathologies in our community are getting worse (unemployment, crime, teenage pregnancy, etc.).

Who is to blame for this? White folks? Devall Patrick, the Black governor of Massachusetts, has not improved the plight of Blacks in his state. David Dinkins (New York), Tom Bradley (Los Angeles), Coleman Young (Detroit), all former mayors, never improved the plight of Blacks in their cities with their liberal policies. Was that because of racism also?The two exceptions to this were former mayor of Atlanta, Maynard Jackson and former mayor of Washington, DC, Marion Barry. Why were they so different than the other Black mayors?

They focused on increasing Black entrepreneurship by increasing more opportunities for private sector and government contracting. These two mayors created many Black millionaires, who created jobs, and hired people who paid taxes and helped to create stable communities.

So, on the one hand, Blacks said America would never elect a Black because of racism. Blacks then turn around and say Obama can’t do anything to specifically address the needs in the Black community because of racism (meaning white racist will accuse Obama of being partial to Blacks).

I am confused!

Raynard Jackson is president & CEO of Raynard Jackson & Associates, LLC., a D.C.-public relations/government affairs firm. He is also a contributing editor for ExcellStyle Magazine (www.excellstyle.com), Freedom’s Journal Magazine (www.freedomsjournal.net), and U.S. Africa Magazine (www.usafricaonline.com).

P.S. – Because of the many emails I get asking me to write more about issues relating to Africa, I have an announcement. I will continue to write my weekly Thursday columns as normal. But, I now will also write a column focusing on Africa every other Tuesday beginning next week. If you have a particular country or issue you want me to consider, please let me know and I will consider all requests.

BCN – Mobile Global Media

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The Solution

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Co-sponsored by Blacksonville Community Network

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Barbara Goodman, Barbara_goodman@nps.gov 904-221-5568

           Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve Announces
       Significant Archaeological Discovery at Kingsley Plantation

JACKSONVILLE, FLA.  ---  Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve
Superintendent Barbara Goodman announced a significant archaeological
discovery at an event at Kingsley Plantation on Thursday, November 10. The
discovery was of the previously unknown location of a burial ground,
believed to be a Kingsley-era slave cemetery -- with six early 19th Century
human burials confirmed.

Goodman announced the discovery to a group of Kingsley Plantation
descendants, including Dr. Johnnetta Cole, director of the Smithsonian
Institution’s National Museum of African Art.  There have been references
to the cemetery’s existence for more than a century, but the location was
never confirmed until this current research.

“This discovery is nothing short of momentous,” Goodman said.  “The fact
that we can now definitively say that we have found this remarkable
heritage site is very significant.  It is another important piece of the
story that we continue to tell about the Kingsley Plantation and the
people, both free and enslaved, who lived here.”

The archaeological research leading to the discovery was conducted by the
University of Florida Department of Anthropology in partnership with the
Timucuan Preserve.  Dr. James M. Davidson led an archaeological field
school at Kingsley Plantation between May 10 and June 18, 2010, when the
discovery was made.  The field school consisted of 17 students, numerous
volunteers and members of the Timucuan Preserve staff.

Davidson has been conducting archaeological field schools at Timucuan
Preserve since 2006 and has had many interesting discoveries, including
persuasive evidence for the presence of firearms among the enslaved
population (e.g., gun flints, lead shot, flintlock musket parts), and
evidence for the maintenance of African religion and spirituality (e.g.,
chicken sacrifice and burial; iron objects buried in floors of slave
cabins).  None of these findings have been as noteworthy, however, as the
current one.

 “Before we began this endeavor, we knew intellectually that a slave
cemetery existed on the island,” Davidson said.  “Now that we have actually
re-discovered it, we will be able to afford it a protective status it did
not have as a lost feature.”

 “For lineal descendants and the greater African-American descendant
community, I believe it is significant to know the actual place of burial
for those ancestors who endured enslavement, and who lived and died in a
foreign land to create the landscape that is now Kingsley Plantation,” he
said.  “To be able to know a bit about these anonymous men, women, and
children, and garner some insight into their lives through a respectful
viewing of their final resting place, is an opportunity very rarely seen.”

Still to be determined are: the full extent of the cemetery’s boundaries,
the number of remains interred, and the inclusive time periods of the
interments.

Goodman said she and her staff plan to confer with the descendant community
and the public to determine the most appropriate way to protect and
memorialize the site and provide for ongoing education about the lives of
the people interred there.

“There is much more research to be done at this site,” Goodman said.  “As
we continue to determine what that research will be, we will engage the
community on a number of themes that will help us properly respect and
honor those resting here.  That engagement begins today and will continue
through the coming months and years.”

On Saturday November 12, park rangers and the park archaeologist will
present a “Day of Discovery” at the site.  They will offer guided tours of
the grounds and answer questions regarding the history of Kingsley
Plantation and the cemetery.

“Visitors will have the opportunity to stop at a ‘reflection station’ to
share their thoughts, ideas, and stories related to their personal
connection to this discovery,” Goodman said.  “The National Park Service
wants to know what this discovery means to the community.”

Kingsley Plantation is the site of a former large estate on Fort George
Island.  It was owned in the early 1800s by Zephaniah Kingsley, a slave
trader and shipper who married one of his slaves, Anna Jai.  In 1811 he
freed her and their three children.  She went on to manage the plantation
in Kingsley’s absence and own slaves herself.  After the United States
annexed Florida in 1821, racial policies changed.  Interracial marriage was
prohibited.  Free blacks and those of mixed race were prohibited from
inheriting property.  In response, Kingsley eventually moved his family to
the free black society of Haiti.

Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve was established in 1988.  Its
46,000 acres contain unique natural and cultural resources, including one
of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast.  It helps to
preserve 6,000 years of human history in Florida, including vestiges of the
Timucua Indians, the French colonization at Fort Caroline, the period of
Spanish ownership, and the Kingsley Plantation.

                                ---NPS---

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