Florida State Teachers Association Explained

The Florida State Teachers Association (FSTA) was an organization of Black educators, administrators, other staff, and parents in Florida.^[1] African American teachers faced discrimination and underfunded schools. Educators in the group served as activists advocating for civil rights and educational opportunities.^[2]

It was the largest teacher organization in Florida.^[3] Hubert Humphrey prepared a speech to the group in 1964.^[4] The group published the Florida State Teachers' Bulletin.

The Tampa branch helped organize the Turner v Keefe lawsuit targeting lower pay for Boack teachers.^[5]

Emmett W. Bashful, a political scientist at Florida A& M University, sought to survey members about voter registration and voting by group members.^[6]

The Florida Archives include a photo of the group's kitchen in Tallahassee.^[7]

Edward Daniel Davis^[8] and Gilbert Lawrence Porter were leaders in the group. A book discusses Porter's work^[9] and a Miami elementary school is named for him.^[10]

School boards closed schools for African Americans and many black teachers and administrators lost their jobs.^[11]

Further reading

• The History of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University by Leedell Wallace Neyland and John W. Riley, University of Florida Press (1963)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Black Educators: Florida's Secret Social Justice Advocates, 1920-1960. exhibits.uflib.ufl.edu.
2. An "Organized Body of Intelligent Agents," Black Teacher Activism during "De Jure" Segregation: A Historical Case Study of the Florida State Teachers Association. Diedre Faith. Houchen. November 26, 2020. Journal of Negro Education. 89. 3. 267–281. ERIC. 10.7709/jnegroeducation.89.3.0267 .
3. "Not a Single Battle but Rather a Real War": The Fight to Equalize Teachers' Salaries in Florida in the 1930s and 1940s. Emmons, Caroline. 2003. The Florida Historical Quarterly. 81. 4. 418–439. 30150945 . JSTOR.
4. http://www2.mnhs.org/library/findaids/00442/pdfa/00442-01305.pdf
5. Rethinking Turner v. Keefe: The Parallel Mobilization of African-American and White Teachers in Tampa, Florida, 1936–1946. Barbara J.. Shircliffe. February 26, 2012. History of Education Quarterly. 52. 1. 99–136. Cambridge University Press. 10.1111/j.1748-5959.2011.00374.x. 142501177 .
6. Web site: The Florida Legislative Investigation Committee (FLIC) · A University in Transition: The Long Path to Integration · A University in Transition: The Long Path to Integration. universityintransition.omeka.net.
7. Web site: Florida Memory • Interior view showing kitchen at the Florida State Teachers Association building in Tallahassee, Florida..
8. Web site: Edward Daniel Davis. The Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame.
9. Web site: Dr. Gilbert L. Porter. Dr Gilbert L.. Porter. Dr. Gilbert L. Porter.
10. Web site: About Us. mysite.
11. Teachers: Segregation by Integration . Time . 18 June 1965 .