2022 Black Heritage Calendar - Presented by the Black Educators' Caucus Inc., of Hernando County
The BEC is a 501c3 service organization and affiliate of the Hernando County Classroom Teachers Association comprised of influential and impactful educators who formed forty years ago in 1981 to: Advance the interests of the teaching profession; Promote the welfare of the Black educators throughout Hernando County; and Ensure that the educational needs of the local Black community are met. Thank you to our amazing sponsors, patrons and advertisers for your support of this annual project!
The BEC is a 501c3 service organization and affiliate of the Hernando County Classroom Teachers Association comprised of influential and impactful educators who formed forty years ago in 1981 to: Advance the interests of the teaching profession; Promote the welfare of the Black educators throughout Hernando County; and Ensure that the educational needs of the local Black community are met. Thank you to our amazing sponsors, patrons and advertisers for your support of this annual project!
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Hattie Redding<br />
1931-<br />
Hattie Josephine Harris-Redding is a native <strong>of</strong> Titusville, Florida where she graduated<br />
as valedictorian from Titusville Colored School in 1951. After high school, Hattie<br />
enrolled at <strong>the</strong> famed Bethune-Cookman College (University) earning a bachelor’s<br />
degree in secondary education language arts in 1955.While a student at B-CC, she<br />
became a student ambassador, engaging notables such as: President Franklin<br />
Roosevelt and First Lady Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, Ms. Marian Anderson, Duke<br />
Ellington and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Ralph Bunch, Ph.D., and o<strong>the</strong>rs. Around <strong>the</strong><br />
time <strong>of</strong> her graduation, <strong>the</strong> world she once knew was changing rapidly. First, <strong>the</strong><br />
Supreme Court had declared <strong>the</strong> separate but equal doctrine unconstitutional in its<br />
1954 Brown v. Board <strong>of</strong> Education Decision paving <strong>the</strong> way for <strong>the</strong> desegregation<br />
<strong>of</strong> public schools and accommodations in general. Then, Mrs. Bethune died and a<br />
decade later, passage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Civil Rights Acts <strong>of</strong> 1964 and Voting Rights Act <strong>of</strong><br />
1965 occurred. Hattie is a heir <strong>of</strong> Mrs. Bethune’s “Last Will and Testament”.<br />
When she commenced her teaching career, she broke her promise that she would<br />
never visit Brooksville again nor make it her home after a high school basketball<br />
game she attended against Moton. She found <strong>the</strong> conditions at <strong>the</strong> school deplorable.<br />
Fate had ano<strong>the</strong>r plan in mind. Hattie joined <strong>the</strong> Moton High School faculty as an English<br />
teacher in 1955. Things were no better when she arrived. Never<strong>the</strong>less, she honored BCC’s<br />
motto: “Enter to learn and Exit to serve” and she made a vow to do whatever she had to, to<br />
prepare her students for life. This vow included lodging with <strong>the</strong> McRae Family until personal housing could be secured. She<br />
never looked back. On November 22, 1963, <strong>the</strong> day President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, she walked <strong>the</strong> campus<br />
informing classes that <strong>the</strong> president had been assassinated. She was <strong>the</strong> class <strong>of</strong> 1959 sponsor and for <strong>the</strong> Class <strong>of</strong> 1964<br />
which had one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> highest college enrollment and completion rate in <strong>the</strong> school’s history. More than 50% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> class<br />
graduated from college or served in <strong>the</strong> military. Her class’ senior trip was to Nassau, Bahamas. The relationship she built<br />
with <strong>the</strong> class <strong>of</strong> 1964 has stood <strong>the</strong> test <strong>of</strong> time as a lifelong commitment. She was a popular player during <strong>the</strong> annual<br />
faculty-student intramural basketball game. She openly joined <strong>the</strong> <strong>Black</strong> students <strong>by</strong> wearing a dashiki for <strong>the</strong> first <strong>Black</strong><br />
History Month Celebration to be held at <strong>Hernando</strong> High School. She worked at Moton from 1955-1969 and retired from<br />
<strong>Hernando</strong> High School in 1985. She also worked 9 years for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong> Sheriff Office. A plaque was placed on <strong>the</strong><br />
Mid-Florida Community Services Head Start <strong>of</strong>fice wall on School Street in her honor <strong>by</strong> MHS Class <strong>of</strong> 1964 and her family.<br />
Hattie is <strong>the</strong> founding secretary for <strong>the</strong> <strong>Black</strong> Educators’ <strong>Caucus</strong>, <strong>Inc</strong>., <strong>of</strong> <strong>Hernando</strong> <strong>County</strong>. She is a longtime member <strong>of</strong><br />
Bethlehem Progressive Baptist Church and remains active in <strong>the</strong> choir as a musician, member, and secretary <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> pastoral<br />
inspirational committee. Her hobbies are reading, doing puzzles, playing <strong>the</strong> piano, and singing. She was a member <strong>of</strong> Moton<br />
High School 50th Anniversary, 1939-1989 Celebration Steering Committee. She is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> elders <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Timmons Family<br />
Reunions.<br />
Hattie is married to <strong>the</strong> late Eugene Redding, Sr. and has one son Eugene “Jerry” Redding, Jr.<br />
Sponsors:<br />
Eugene and Patrice Redding Jr.<br />
“The progress <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world will call for <strong>the</strong> best that all <strong>of</strong> us have to give” Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune