Deland Quakers Give Away Black History Books

Aug 7, 2023 | News, Peace & Social Concerns

DeLand Quakers gave away almost 500 books at the rescheduled Juneteenth event held July 29 at the Sanborn Center in Earl Brown Park. Throughout the day, hundreds of men, women, and children stopped at the booth to browse through boxes labeled by categories and children’s reading levels. They couldn’t believe the books were free.

The Quakers had been collecting books for months as a response to the widespread culling of Black history books from school libraries in reaction to the Anti-Woke Act promoted by Governor Ron DeSantis and passed by the Florida legislature, making it a felony to teach or lend books on Black history not vetted by the Florida Department of Education. They were hoping to get 100 books. But books kept coming. They were stunned to receive nearly 500 books in the mail, delivered by UPS, and left on doorsteps. A woman in Pennsylvania donated $100 by paypal.

 “Local DeLand residents, educators, librarians and civil rights advocates donated hundreds of books to us,” says Kathy Hersh, a member of the DeLand Quaker group. “We even got shipments of books from donors in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York. People everywhere are worried about the censorship of books and the whitewashing of Black history in Florida and its ripple affect elsewhere in the country.”

butterfly on flower

Many were eager to read about lesser-known luminaries of Black history like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, and Sojourner Truth. Grandmothers searched through boxes of beautifully illustrated young children’s books for reading aloud to their grandchildren.

“I was a teacher in California in 1980 and there were no books in the school on Black history,” said a retired educator. “I had to buy them myself. I can’t believe you are giving these away.” She reached into her purse and pulled a $5 bill out of her wallet. “Here. I want to contribute a little something to what you are doing.” And then she gave a big hug to the person who had helped her make her selection.

DeLand Friends want to encourage other SEYM Monthly Meetingss and Worship Groups to set up Black history and banned books (lots on LGBTQ+ issues) giveaways to provide free access to books which are being pulled from school and local libraries in Florida. By recycling these books into private homes, we are assuring that children will learn real history and not the whitewashed Black history curriculum being foisted onto teachers in public schools.

~Kathy Hersh

Support Our Work

Your gift funds SEYM programs, events, staff salaries, communications, and representative travel.

Latest Posts

Tallahassee Meeting Minute on War in Israel-Palestine

Tallahassee Meeting Minute on War in Israel-Palestine

Tallahassee Friends Meeting approved a Statement on Conflict in Israel-Palestine, below, at their January 2024 meeting for business. In February, they approved taking out a quarter page ad with the statement in a good location in the Tallahassee Democrat.

WIBM & Michener Lecture Highlights

WIBM & Michener Lecture Highlights

About 100 people gathered in person and online for Winter Interim Business Meeting on Saturday, January 20th and the Michener Lecture on Sunday, January 21st. Orlando Friends, as they do every year, hosted these events, providing delicious breakfasts and lunches.

Find Quakers

For Newcomers

Our Faith

About SEYM

Membership

Find a Meeting

Find Quakers

Four people at outdoor fair

For Newcomers

Outdoor Meeting for Worship

Our Faith

A collage of many people

About SEYM

Membership Menu — Two Women

Membership

Peace & Justice

Becoming-Anti-Racist

Earthcare

Worship & Ministry

LGBTQ Allyship

Find a Meeting

Peace & Justice

Anti-Racism Hands

Becoming Anti-Racist

Two sets of hands holding a small plant sprout in soil

Earthcare

Three people in silent waiting worship

Worship & Ministry

Woman holding sign saying "Quakers Embrace Everyone"

LGBTQ Allyship

Youth

Young Adults

Child Safety

Youth Resources

Youth Program

We welcome young people’s presence as vital to the depth of spiritual and community life of Southeastern Yearly Meeting as a whole.

Three young people outside

Youth

Young Adults

Young Adults

Children and adult leaders on a bridge

Child Safety

Three young people outside

Youth Resources

Spiritual Life Resources

Publications

Queries & Advices

Safe Community

Archives & Documents

Small flower

Spiritual Life Resources

Cover of Southeastern Yearly Meeting's Faith & Practice

Publications

Candle

Queries & Advices

Hand holding a felt heart

Safe Community

Stack of papers folders

Archives & Documents

Upcoming Events

SEYM Gathering

Half Yearly Meeting

Michener Lecture

Online Worship

Group gathered outside meetinghouse

Upcoming Events

Group photo Southeastern Yearly Meeting 2014

SEYM Gathering

Pine trees on lakeshore

Half Yearly Meeting

Man speaking

Michener Lecture

Zoom screen

Online Worship

Contact Us