The Harry T. & Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex, Inc. Board of
Directors hosted approximately 150 school administrators, teachers and
students from the Palm Beach County school district visited the Harry T.
& Harriette v. Moore Memorial Park and Cultural Center in Mims on
Friday, June 15th. As part of a five day summer institute program
focused on civil rights and African American history. Debbye Raing,
Director of African and African American Studies for Palm Beach County
schools, who organizes the program says the school district hosts the
summer institute each year for its employees to teach them not only
about black history but also black culture and perspectives. "Learning
all this plays a role in how you teach" she said.
The group's trip included a visit to Bethune-Cookman University, where
Harry and Harriette Moore attended college and the Jackie Robinson
Historic Tour in Daytona Beach before arriving in Mims.
Palm Beach teachers said they felt a special connection to the Moores -
Harriette Moore began teaching in Palm Beach County at Lake Park
Elementary school after she and her husband, Harry were fired from their
teaching jobs here in Brevard County in 1946 because of Harry Moore's
civil rights and political activities. The Moores were pioneer civil
rights activists who organized the first Brevard County Branch of the
NAACP in 1934. Moore later filed a lawsuit to equalize teacher salaries
in the state of Florida.
The couple's surviving daughter Evangeline Moore, who flew from her home
in Maryland to attend the event said she was excited and appreciative
that the group came to learn about her parents. "It shows progress and
it shows that my dad's legacy is being recognized" she said. "That in
essence is my life's work now. Too many people don't know and that's
unfortunate".
Northboro Elementary school teacher Henrietta Scranton admitted she
hadn't known about the Moores before the summer institute program visit
but when she stands before her fifth grade students this fall, she said
the knowledge she gained Friday about the Moores will add another layer
to her teaching. Bill Gary, President of the Moore Cultural Complex
Board of Directors, added he was especially delighted to see so many
students among the four bus loads of visitors who took time out of their
summer vacation to visit the the Moore Park and learn about these great
Florida heroes. "Our goal is to see that students in all 67 Florida
counties be familiar with the contributions of Harry and Harriette
Moore" he said.
