2023 NAACP Image Awards: Ben Crump Vows to Fight for Black History 'In and Outside of the Courtrooms'

etonline.com:

54th NAACP Image Awards Saturday night, and the 53-year-old gave an impassioned speech for Black Americans to fight against politicians «in Florida or any of the other 50 states» trying to erase Black history.The longtime advocate for families who have lost loved ones to police violence was honored with the award for his efforts in protecting the rights of people on the federal, state and local levels.«I accept this award as greater motivation to continue to be [an] unapolgetic defender of Black life, Black liberty and Black humanity,» Crump said during his acceptance speech. «I promise I will use this Social Justice Award as greater incentive to fight against the legalized genocide of colored people and vow never to stop fighting racism and discrimination when it rears its ugly head.»Addressing Gov.

Ron DeSantis' recent moves to block the uncensored teaching of Black history and AP African American history courses in Florida — which is where Crump's practice is located — the attorney thanked those who have fought with him to «make liberty and justice for all a reality.»«I will continue to fight in the court of law, in the court of public opinion,» Crump said. «And now that they're trying to ban our most celebrated Black authors in AP African American studies, we must advocate for our children and our culture in the classrooms and demand that they acknowledge that the teaching of Black history matters!»"[We have to] demand that they acknowledge that the teaching of Black history matters," he asserted. «Harriet Tubman matters, Frederick Douglass matters, Ida B.

Wells matters, Thurgood Marshall matters, Dr. King matters, Rosa Parks matters, Malcolm X matters, Shirley Chisholm, John Lewis, they were not mere footnotes in.