As the possibility of a Mary McLeod Bethune statue representing Florida in the U.S. Capitol moves closer to becoming a reality, Bethune's granddaughter is expressing her gratitude, and calling on people everywhere to help keep the effort moving forward.
- Committee voted Oct. 10
- Statue replacement will cost $388,000
- Private donors, fundraising, grants help cover cost
For Dr. Evelyn Bethune, carrying on her grandmother's legacy has long been a part of the vision board that hangs on a wall in her office.
"She was an activist -- a civil rights activist in particular," said Bethune. "My grandmother stood on the street protesting lynching, she protested for women's rights."
The Florida Government Accountability Committee voted on Oct. 10 on House Bill 139 to replace the statue of General Edmund Kirby Smith currently at the Capitol with a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune. The state legislature voted on the removal of the Kirby Smith statue, in place since 1922, last year.
If the legislative effort is successful, the statue of Bethune would be the first statue of an African-American woman to represent a state in the National Statuary Hall.
"My grandmother is the epitome of American history," said Bethune. "If you want a confederate soldier statue, put it in your yard or put it in a museum to talk about the history of that time period, but you don't make it something that people come to look at in terms of what this country stands for."
Photo courtesy Dr. Evelyn Bethune
Bethune said adding a statue to her vision board would make her family even prouder.
"So now we put the statue right here," Bethune said, pointing at a spot on the board, "and stay focused on that until it becomes a reality."
Bethune said in order to keep this bill moving, everyone -- from students to alumni and the community -- need to call their representatives to let them know they support it.
The statue replacement will cost $388,000. Private donors, fundraising, and grants help cover the cost.