for more, we're joined by marvin dunn, who helped organize the protest and leading teach no lies toursteachers and young people to places like rosewood, florida, the site of a 1923 massacre of black residents at the hands of a white mob. many eyewitnesses say that death toll was higher. violence began when a white woman falsely accused a black and of assault. i the time the massacre ended, every building in rosewood except one had burned down. no long person agency investigated the massacre. no one was ever charged with crimes. marvin dunn is a professor emeritus at florida international university, author of numerous books, including "the history of florida: through black eyes." in the book come he writes -- "almost all of florida's painful racial past has been whitewashed, marginalized or buried intentionally. but i was born here. i know florida's flowers and her warts." professor dunn is co-founder of the miami center for racial justice. welcome to democracy now! you are one of those that love the march this week and a rep before kids go back to school. talk about the new curriculum

amy: marvin dunn, thank you for being with us, professor emeritus at florida international university numerous books, including "the history of florida: through black eyes." co-founder of the miami center for racial justice. joining us from palmetto bay, miami. next up, we look at a shocking new "washington post" expose revealing the smithsonian has a racial brain collection gathered in part by racist anthropologist. back in 30 seconds. ♪♪ [music break] amy: "when seasons change" by curtis mayfield. this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman. we end today's looking at a major investigation by "the washington post" that revealed the smithsonian institution holds a so-called racial brain collection that contains 255 brains gathered in the first half of the 20th century. much of it was collected at the behest of a racist anthropologist who was trying to scientifically prove the superiority of white people. an investigation by "the washington post" found most of the brains in the smithsonian collection were removed from dead black and indigenous pe

joining us, marvin dunn at florida international university, he led the protests in florida yesterdaying. what led you to organize these protests? >> i'm angry. black america is angry. our history is being assaulted by desantis and this idea of slaves having personal benefits has been especially harmful and insulting. how can a slave in america consider to profit and have personal benefits? american slavery was particularly evil, jose, because it was the only system of slavery in which the enslaved were not considered to be persons, but property. we find this very insulting. and that's why we're demonstrating and we'll continue to do that. >> yeah, i mean, it is so important to highlight what you're saying. how can there be anything of any benefit when the concept that people were not people is the starting point to everything. and when you talk to fellow teachers, what do you see and what do they see as the impact these changes could have? >> it is chilling on teachers. they cannot teach in a normal way they teach. they're afraid to teach, you can't blame them. but desantis is to hav

marvin dunn says is wrong. >> there was no black on white racial violence in the state of florida, ande. >> reporter: and what is called a "teach the truth tour" with stops throughout central florida. >> it's painful to see our history buried like that on purpose. >> reporter: for this high school teacher the trip was overwhelming. >> i've heard stories but nothing like coming out here yourself and experiencing and seeing it for yourself. >> reporter: from high school to sunday school, churches also are carrying the tradition of preserving black history. dr. tony drayton is the pastor of the saint james church of rivera beach where he says black history long a part of his sermons and lessons for his members. >> five, ten minute short stories on his or her level. >> reporter: the doctor is also a part of the nonprofit faith in florida, a group that's created a black history tool kit pap resource featuring articles books and documentaries to help anyone learn more about the history of african americans. >> the tool kit can build a game changer in teaching our history. >> reporter: that t

ocoee and across florida are struggling to teach students under these new standards, professor, marvin dunnors ocoee's history firsthand. >> i am here because i wanted to bring active teachers to these places in florida where the state requires some to tell lies to students. like that there were anti white people in ocoee. teachers feel they have to teach alive because the state requires at. could someone tell me what is wrong with this marker? the problem with this marker is that it doesn't tell the truth of what happened here. it doesn't tell the truth of who is out there. this is hollow ground. this is not a cemetery. this is a mass grave. this is a mass grave. we will take questions, comments, reactions, anything from anybody. >> i am a teacher and i am telling all teachers, as you know, i was not hired to teach lies. and i will never teach flies. i am not a teacher who will teach lives. period. >> as for the students and school in ocoee, they are determined to learn the truth about what happened in their own backyard. regardless of what the state of florida says. >> even if our history

ocoee and across florida are struggling to teach students under these new standards, professor marvin dunnrs ocoee's history firsthand. >> i'm here because i want to bring their county teachers, active teachers, to these places in florida where the state requires them to tell lives to student like there was anti white violence and ocoee. we're trying to correct the record. not having the teacher feels like they have to stay alive because the state requires them to. >> can someone tell me what's wrong with this marker? the problem with this marker is that it doesn't tell the truth of what happened here. it doesn't tell the truth of who is out there. this is hollow ground. calling this a cemetery is a lie, this is a mass grave. this is a mass grave. i will take questions, reactions, comments, anything. >> i am a teacher in a public school, and i'm telling all teachers as you know i wasn't higher to teach lies, and i will never teach lies. i am not a teacher who will teach law's. period. >> as for the students back in school in ocoee, they are determined to learn the truth about what happened