New Brownsville Blogger Finds Hints of Racism at Brownsville Historical Museum

From the editor:  Juan Fidencio Trevino, the publisher of the Brownsville Bright, a blog recently joining the local blogosphere, has uncovered what he feels are hints of racism at the Brownsville Historical Museum.  We repost his recent article below, which can be found at jtrevbtx.blogspot.com:  

A Bias Set in Stone

Meet Craig Stone. Since June of 2013, he has been the Program and Education Coordinator at the Brownsville Historical Museum (1 and 2), an institution dedicated to "preserve, educate, and promote the history, heritage, and cultural arts of Brownsville exhibitions." However, I am disappointed to inform you that Mr. Stone is also an active member of the 6th Brigade in the Texas Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, meaning that he holds a view on the American Civil War that does not coincide with historical facts.

This does not sound like a man who should be considered a reliable educator or museum coordinator, but maybe I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's take a look at the evidence.

I recommend you read my last few articles on the festering Confederate presence in Brownsville. In the first, I present the history surrounding the Civil War and the short-lived rebellion that was the Confederate States of America, with historical quotes from relevant figures and documents, while the second points out the injustice our museum committed by promoting the glorification of the confederate movement but disregarding Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, a man whose words and actions were used to liberate rather than oppress, the day after.

Long story short: Northerners grew concerned with the South's reliance on African-Americans for slave labor. The South became defensive. Physical conflict. The South decided to form their own nation so they could do as they pleased, keeping slaves. The North denied their secession, defeated the South, and outlawed slavery, paving the way for racial equality. The 1902 SCV Constitution states that the group's purpose is "to instill into [their] descendants a proper veneration for the spirit and the glory of [their] fathers, and bring them into association with our Confederation." In reality, they attempt to justify lingering bits of racist memorabilia as cherishable historical pieces of nostalgic and educational value, and they are very defensive about their stuff.

On December 19th, 2015, Brownsville citizen, Antonio Castillo, started a petition to remove the Jefferson Davis Memorial, a physical manifestation of outdated bigotry on public display, from Washington Park. Two days later, Stone shared a counterpetition on his Facebook page, urging people to oppose its removal.

His cause is supported by James Mills, Vice President of Brownsville Historical Association's Board of Directors, who told The Brownsville Herald "we have a lot of dark history in the past" and that "we can reinterpret it today but it doesn't change the past." He thinks "it is important that it stays there in Washington Park." This statement shows that Mills either does not understand that there's a difference between acknowledging and glorifying these dark times or simply does not respect people of a different color.

Also speaking for the memorial is Eugene Fernandez, Old City Cemetery Coordinator, who very passionately expressed how he would defend it from "these bandy-legged upstarts." I don't know what he means either, but that "scratching and scraping" he mentioned sounds like a physical threat.

Favoring a twisted version of history over fact undermines Stone's credibility as an educator and museum coordinator. Glorifying those who fought for the right to oppress others strips him of any respectability as a human being. His activity on social media is consistent in showing his southern pride, even going so far as spreading revival propaganda!

He is as much a representative of Confederate racism and stubbornness as the Jefferson Davis memorial, and, in order for Brownsville to progress, they must both be removed from their current positions as soon as possible.

- Juan Fidencio Treviño II