Lindabrown for Grove SUPREME COURT RULING on HER CASE ENDED ‘SEPARATE but EQUAL’ City’S Move to Save Linda Brown Was Black Homes Feared OPEKA, Kan
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Volume 95 Number 32 | MARCH 28-APRIL 3, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com | Ninety-Three Cents BROWN V. BOARD OF EDUCATION Concerns over plans LindaBROWN for Grove SUPREME COURT RULING ON HER CASE ENDED ‘SEPARATE BUT EQUAL’ City’s move to save Linda Brown was Black homes feared OPEKA, Kan. (AP) — As a girl in a young girl when Kansas, Linda Brown’s father tried her father tried to ANDREA ROBINSON to enroll her in an all-white school in enroll her in a white [email protected] Topeka.T He and several Black families were school in 1954, Miami wants to preserve the Baha- turned away, sparking the Brown v. Board of leading to the mian-style homes that were built by Education case that challenged segregation in Supreme Court’s the original Black families in Coconut landmark ruling public schools. Grove. But a meeting to get input from that desegregated longtime residents and property owners devolved into a skirmish about historic A 1954 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court schools. preservation and property rights. followed, striking down racial segregation in Tempers flared during a March 20 schools and cementing Linda Brown’s place in meeting at which city officials shared a history as a central figure in the landmark case. proposal to designate as historic more Funeral officials in Topeka said Brown died than 50 homes in Village West, also Sunday at age 75. A cause of death was not re- known as the Black Coconut Grove. leased. Arrangements were pending at Peaceful But the people who came to Armbrister Rest Funeral Chapel. Park had questions about the process Her sister, Cheryl Brown Henderson, founding and the purpose of the meeting. president of The Brown Foundation, confirmed “How come I’m just the death to The Topeka Capital-Journal. She hearing about this?” declined comment from the family. asked J.B. Diederich, a Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel property owner who at NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund sat in the front of the Inc., said in a statement that Linda Brown is one room near two city of a band of heroic young people who, along staff members. with her family, courageously fought to end the The meeting was ultimate symbol of white supremacy — racial Feb. 20, 1942 - March 25, 2018 the last of three to get segregation in public schools. community input on “She stands as an example of how ordinary the proposal initiated schoolchildren took center stage in transforming by Miami Commis- Ken Russell this country. It was not easy for her or her family, sioner Ken Russell. but her sacrifice broke barriers and changed the The Miami Commission voted unani- meaning of equality in this country,” Ifill mously in July 2017 to explore the his- said in a statement. toric designation idea. Commissioners The NAACP’s legal arm brought the lawsuit to challenge segregation in public schools before the Supreme Court, and Brown’s father, Oliver “I didn’t know about the SEE BROWN 6A first or second meetings.” George Simpson Jr. Source: New York Times Co. / Getty asked city preservation officers to hold meetings to get residents’ input. Staff members from the city’s historic preservation department visited the area last fall and came up with a list of 51 homes that could make the cut for the designation. The criteria: the houses must be wood-frame vernacular con- struction, a style used by Bahamian and African-American settlers from south- ern states, and built between 1890 and 1941. The houses were built in a half- square-mile area roughly bounded by Douglas Road on the west, U.S. 1 and Bird Road on the north, McDonald Street and Abitare Way on the east and Franklin Avenue and part of Marler Ave- nue on the south. The Historic and Environmental Preservation Board will meet April 3 Janai Altenor, a to make a preliminary evaluation, city officials said. 15-year-old student, But some homeowners don’t believe gets interviewed they have enough information and com- by Viceland at the plained they didn’t receive notices about March for Our Lives the meetings. Others wanted to know Saturday in Washing- whether their property was on the list. ton, D.C. Diederich said he lives just outside of Coconut Grove, but he owns two prop- Miami Times photo/Janiah Adams erties that are on the list. He said he successfully fought with county officials who wanted them torn down. Diederich said he was apprehensive Expanding the narrative about the city’s intent. He feared the historic designation means he’s locked MIAMI INNER-CITY STUDENTS HEAD TO WASHINGTON WITH A MISSION into one style. “I don’t like the way they looked JANIAH ADAMS who live less than 35 minutes of the various groups who helped before,” he said, adding that the houses [email protected] away from where 17 high school make the $33,000 all-expense were built as workers’ quarters. Died- students and educators lost their paid trip possible. erich said property taxes and windstorm WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ex- lives in Parkland, spoke out about The students had personal sto- insurance costs him between $8,000 to pand the gun violence narrative. the gun violence they experience ries. $10,000 per year for each structure. That’s the message that 36 on an everyday basis. Last year, while walking to “What [the city is] trying to do is of Miami’s inner-city students ICARE, Inner City Alumni for We got together and Snappers restaurant on early- going to hurt everyone. They’re going shared with anyone who would Responsible Education, arranged we decided to take our release day, 16-year-old Ahmon to kill the value of all those properties,” listen in nation’s capital last the trip because the members kids because it seemed Watson was accidentally shot at. Diederich said. weekend. didn’t see support for students like no one else was Ahmon attends Miami Norland George Simpson, a retired physician From last Thursday to Monday, who live with gun violence daily mentioning taking our Senior High School in Miami and longtime Grove resident, said the the students, embarked on a five- to go to the march. Gardens. Before boarding the meeting caught him by surprise. inner-city schools.” day trip that started in Miami and “We got together, and we de- “ bus, he said the trip was some- “I didn’t know about the first or sec- ended in Washington, D.C., to cided to take our kids because thing he always dreamed about. ond meetings,” he said. join thousands at Sat- urday’s it seemed like no one else was Inner City Alumni for “I’m just scared and nervous Simpson's son and namesake, George March for Our mentioning about taking our in- Responsible Education because I feel like this is a very Jr., questioned the city’s intent in creat- Lives. ner-city schools,” said ICARE Vice President monumental moment and this ing the program. He argued that the Evangeline Canty These students Vice President Evangeline Canty, SEE GUNS 4A SEE GROVE 4A Stella Awards BUSINESS ................................................. 7B YOU & YOURS ............................................ 7D Today Travis Greene CLASSIFIED ............................................. 11B FAITH CALENDAR ................................... 8D 81° picks up four IN GOOD TASTE ......................................... 1C HEALTH & WELLNESS ............................. 9D INSIDE LIFESTYLE HAPPENINGS ....................... 5C OBITUARIES ............................................. 12D 7D 8 90158 00100 0 Editorials Cartoons Opinions Letters VIEWPOINT BLACKS MUST CONTROL THEIR OWN DESTINY | MARCH 28-APRIL 3, 2018 | MiamiTimesOnline.com Credo Of The Black Press MEMBER: National Newspaper Periodicals Postage EDITORIAL The Black Press believes that America Publisher Association paid at Miami, Florida (ISSN 0739-0319) can best lead the world from racial and MEMBER: The Newspaper POSTMASTER: Published Weekly at 900 NW 54th Street, Association of America Send address changes to national antagonism when it accords Miami, Florida 33127-1818 Subscription Rates: One Year THE MIAMI TIMES, to every person, regardless of race, Shameful support for Post Office Box 270200 $52.99 – Two Year $99.99 P.O. Box 270200 creed or color, his or her human and Buena Vista Station, Miami, Florida 33127 Foreign $75.00 Buena Vista Station, Miami, FL Phone 305-694-6210 legal rights. Hating no person, fearing 7 percent sales tax for Florida residents 33127-0200 • 305-694-6210 education in no person, the Black Press strives to H.E. SIGISMUND REEVES, Founder, 1923-1968 help every person in the firm belief that GARTH C. REEVES, JR., Editor, 1972-1982 all persons are hurt as long as anyone GARTH C. REEVES, SR., Publisher Emeritus is held back. Miami-Dade RACHEL J. REEVES, Publisher and Chairman Notice what we say – not what we do. That seems to be what residents should understand from their leaders. Democrats must inspire new voters When the cameras are rolling, there are promises of unification and support for all students in Miami-Dade County. A commit- JOYANN-REID, The Daily Beast ment to let all feel included is the narrative. But that is all it seems Given the utter train wreck dangerously unhinged presi- icy-based, and not also cul- to be — good soundbite. that the Donald Trump pres- dency. tural. If the shift away from A few very significant events happened recently that involved idency has been from day A much-trafficked piece in Democrats in 2016 was strictly activities of public school students. The most-recent is the death one, logic would suggest that The New York Times by sev- based on policy, those voters of Linda Brown on March 25, of Brown v. Board of Education, Democrats could run a bas- eral writers including Sean might still be won back.