Bethune-Cookman U. Founder’s Granddaughter Urges Parents: Be Firm, Push Education

WHITESBORO — “Today we are in the war with good and evil. Satan is trying to steal our children. Look at who is in prison, our babies,” said Dr. Evelyn Bethune, featured speaker at the Feb. 27 ceremony celebrating Black History Month at Christ Gospel Agape Community Life Center.
“Vision, Mission, Legacy,” was the program’s theme.
Bethune is the granddaughter of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, 15th child of former slaves, and cousin of Denise Bethune of this community.
Bethune spoke fondly of her grandmother, who read to neighborhood children, cared deeply about education, and founded Bethune-Cookman University in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The college began with $1.50 and faith in God, Bethune said. No land was given to the school that later became a university, she noted. Instead, it was purchased, and through faith, grew over time.
Her grandmother reasoned, “If education was something so important that people are willing to kill you for, it must be worth something,” said Bethune. She recounted how, in former centuries, if blacks were caught with a book, or someone tried to teach them to read, “They could be killed.”
“To have open access to education, we should relish that, cherish that, because people gave their lives for that to happen,” she said.
“We don’t push education like we used to,” said Bethune. “It’s OK for kids not to act intelligent. We’ve lost control, and that’s so important for parents. You have to take back control of your house,” she said.
Bethune said many young people today crave technology, want to have their privacy, and even text message while in church.
“They tell us to stay out of their rooms, and we do it,” said Bethune, adding, “My mother would have taken the door off the hinges if I said ‘Don’t come in, I want my privacy. I can’t even imagine. The thought scares me today,” she added.
She urged parents to maintain communications with their children, keep an open dialog, and learn what they are thinking, who their friends are, where they are going and what they will be doing.
“Many times, children try to tell us things, and we cut them off,” she said.
Since all children come into the world equally, Bethune admonished parents that “what gets poured into them or not poured into them determines the direction they take.”
“Men, you need to be more visible in your children’s lives. They need to see black men doing things,” she said.
She then cited a study that only 4 percent of teachers in the nation are black males. She cited her grandson, now in college, who had one black male teacher in his primary and secondary education.
“Black children need to see strong black men,” Bethune stated.” It helps them make good choices.”
“Sisters, when looking for a husband, you need to know what to look for,” she continued.
“We have to stop making it OK to get pregnant out of wedlock. It‘s not OK,” said Bethune.
“That doesn’t’ mean people don’t make mistakes, but we have to know we can’t allow our children to be out here and no one taking care of them, babies taking care of babies. It’s not OK. We have to get back to our old standards,” she added.
She urged parents to read to their children, then “Make them read.”
The criminal justice system is the fastest growing industry in the nation, Bethune said. “They are looking at children in third and fourth grades to see now many cells to build,” she said.
She urged prayer for communications, neighborhoods, and children.
“Get off your knees and do something,” she admonished. “All too often we are too busy, but we can’t be too busy to save our children,” she said. “They are all we have. If we lose the children, we won’t be here. You don’t have to do everything, do your part,” she said.
She also urged parents “Don’t try to be your kid’s friend. We want our kids to be like us. My mother didn’t care if she was our friend. She loved us, and we knew that.”
“Speak what you pray for like it was done. Trust God. Move forward knowing it was done. That’s how our parents and grandparents lived. We have to so the same thing,” said Bethune.
Prior to Bethune’s address, Melisha Anderson read two poems, Lois Smith sang, and the Middle Township Step Team performed an African dance.