Please help us clarify the statement on Spessard L.

Holland Elementary’s
(2023) history page. The page discloses the naming history of the school.
Hazel Sellers (who nominated the school name in 2008) is quoted as
stating, “Not only do we have an opportunity to honor Spessard Holland,
but all of the children who will attend this elementary school will have a
personal link to Florida history, the history of this area.” We are confused
by this statement.
Spessard L. Holland
Before the above quote, the history section mentions Holland’s
involvement in passing the 24 th Amendment (Spessard L. Holland
Elementary School, 2023). Holland spent a considerable time trying to pass
the amendment, which scholars criticized because he did not do more
substantial legislative work during that time (Buchanan, 2020, snac
Cooperative, n.d.). He aimed to remove people selling ballots. However, at
the time, black citizens were the most disenfranchised voting group, but he
had no interest in improving their voting ability. He disclosed that his
efforts were to reduce corruption, not civil rights legislation (snac
Cooperative, n.d.). In contrast, he supported African-American voter
discrimination (Bagenstos, 2014; The Florida Historical Society, n.d.).
Therefore, he has been criticized for making a small contribution to voting
equality as it did not address significant issues. Throughout Holland’s
career, he demonstrated his strong and consistent dislike of minorities.
Therefore, the 24 th Amendment is excluded from racial equality
organizations.
Holland opposed nearly all civil rights legislation throughout his
career (New York Times, 1970). He was a primary figure in opposing civil
rights programs (snac Cooperative, n.d.). His alma mater, the University of
Florida, has a special collection of letters exemplifying his relationships
with racist ideas (The Gainesville Sun, 2004). Furthermore, he voted
against the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He
advocated for segregation and opposed the federal ruling for school
integration (Najmi & Srikanth, 2002). In response, he signed the Southern
Manifesto that condemned racial integration after the 1954 Brown versus
the Board of Education ruling (The Florida Historical Society, n.d.; Time,
1956). Holland committed to resisting school integration. In 1956, Holland
joined the segregationist Dixiecrats (Buchanan, 2020). This group opposed
racial integration and supported racial discrimination during federal
interventions.
 In addition to his position for school segregation, Holland was a
board member of the Florida Farm Community that removed adults and
children deemed “unfit” for society (Noll, 1990). These people were
justified to institutionalization if they had a low IQ, caused family shame
because they were raped and became pregnant, or had epilepsy. Overall,
these people were considered a threat to society and had to be removed.
Holland appeared consistent in his belief that certain people (including
children) did not have the right to protection and support.
Holland was the Florida governor during numerous lynchings and murders
of black people (Bradley Hobbs, 2004). He was motivated to stifle Florida’s
racial violence that could prevent financial investors’ interest. However,
national coverage of gruesome murders threatened Holland’s intent to
appeal to investors. So, he responded by sending superficial investigators
to conclude that the death was warranted. Holland did not lead during any
investigations that led to the naming or prosecution of the people who
murdered black people. Also, his administration delayed sending
investigative reports to the federal government, which resulted in
dismissals because too much time had passed. Although people requested
Holland to take further action in these murders, he declined and mainly
remained passive (The Florida Historical Society, n.d.).
Now, perhaps you can understand why the Spessard L. Holland
Elementary School history page statement is confusing. Again, it states,
“not only do we have an opportunity to honor Spessard Holland, but all of
the children who will attend this elementary school will have a personal
link to Florida history, the history of this area.” Why are students seeing
and wearing a cute alligator named after him (i.e., Spessie)? How does
Holland’s behavior to represent segregation and white privilege fit the
students? The school comprises 55.1% minority students (U.S. News &
World Report, 2022). Why would minority students want a personal link to
racial bias, segregation, and murder of black and brown people? How are
minority students, or any student, to honor a person like Holland ? We are
perplexed why naming a school after any such person would have ever
been considered appropriate.
You are likely aware that a growing petition against naming buildings after
racist politicians (including Spessard Holland at his Alma Mater) has been
circulating (Buchanan, 2020; Rojas, 2020). “Public naming is an act of
honor, not a matter of saying: ‘Well, he [Spessard Holland] didn ’t do
everything wrong’” (Buchanan, 2020). Thank you foryoir attention to this
matter.
References
Bagenstos, S. (2014, June). Universalism and civil rights (with notes on
voting rights after Shelby). Yale Law Journal, 123(8), 6-
7. https://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/2838.Bagenstos.2876_c5kmzww2.
pdf
Bradley Hobbs, T. (2004). Hitler in here: Lynching in Florida during the era
of World War II [dissertation]. Florida State University.
file:///C:/Users/steph/OneDrive/Desktop/FSU_migr_etd-4014.pdf
Buchanan, N. H. (2020, August 13). The discomforts of assessing Jim Crow-
era politicians. Dorf on Law. http://www.dorfonlaw.org/2020/08/the-
discomforts-of-assessing-jim-crow.html
Najmi, S., & Srikanth, R. (2002). White women in racialized spaces:
Imaginative transformation and ethical action in literature. Suny Press.
New York Times. (1970, September 25). Spessard L. Holland dies at 79:
Former senator from
Florida. https://www.nytimes.com/1971/11/07/archives/spessard-l-
holland-dies-at-79-former-senator-from-florida.html
Noll, S. (1990). Care and control of the feeble-minded: Florida farm colony,
1920-1945. Florida Historical Society, 69(1), 1-
58. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3911&context
=fhq
Rojas, A. (2020). Rename buildings glorifying racist at
UF. Change.org. https://www.change.org/p/rename-buildings-glorifying-
racists-at-uf
snac Cooperative. (n.d.). Holland, Spessard L. (Spessard Lindsey), 1892 -
1971. https://snaccooperative.org/ark:/99166/w6q533w3
Spessard L. Holland Elementary School. (2023).
History. https://slhe.polkschoolsfl.com/about/
The Florida Historical Society. (n.d.). A progressive
conservative. https://myfloridahistory.org/webextras/webextras/47
The Gainesville Sun. (2004, February 14). From special collections: Glimpses
of racism. https://www.gainesville.com/story/news/2004/02/15/from-
special-collections-glimpses-of-racism/31658027007/
Time. (1956, March 26). National affairs: The Southern
Manifesto. https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,824
106,00.html
U.S. News & World Report. (2022). Spessard L. Holland Elementary in
Florida –
Education. https://www.usnews.com/education/k12/florida/spessard-l-
holland-elementary-school-209447