The “Whole” Truth Project: A Petition for the Construction of a Statue in Honor of a Local Black or Native American Hero that Reflects the Multicultural Legacy of Jackson County, Florida—spearheaded by the Street Philosophy Institute, Inc. (SPI)

A vibrant settlement since the early 1700s, the area that we now know as “Jackson County, Florida,” has always been a melting pot of Native Americans, so-called Black Americans, and so-called (poor) white Americans.

Before the United States government conquered this part of Florida as a permanent extension of the American empire, Native Americans, Black Americans, and (poor) white Americans, lived, worked, and played together all throughout the rivers, woods, and caves that dot the area’s beautiful, countrified landscape. 

On August 14, 2026, the City of Marianna (the county seat), alongside members of the Jackson County Commissioners Office, the Jackson County School Board, and Governor Ron Desantis, commissioned and publicly recognized the construction of a statue in honor of former President Andrew Jackson—the first military governor of the state of Florida and the inspiration behind Jackson County’s name. 

Besides being the seventh President of the United States of America, Andrew Jackson led several brutal, mass murder-level military campaigns against not only Native American settlements but MIXED settlements of Natives, Blacks, and poor whites like Jackson County.

In light of this controversial symbolic gesture, THE CITIZENS of Jackson County are FORMALLY PETITIONING the City of Marianna, Jackson County Commissioners Office, the Jackson County School Board, and the state of Florida, to fund, develop, and construct a counterpart monument to some local Jackson County hero who is either Black or Native American (or both). 

We call this initiative The “Whole” Truth Project.

Below, volunteers from the Street Philosophy Institute, Inc. (SPI), have created some rough guidelines that we believe should be taken into consideration were this proposal be taken up by the relevant government parties mentioned above. 

These guidelines should not be viewed as binding (legally or morally) and only serve as suggestions that we think could help facilitate this project more smoothly and efficiently.

                                     Rough Guidelines for The “Whole” Truth Project—Jackson County, Florida

·      Officials from the City of Marianna, Jackson County Commissioners Office, the Jackson County School Board, and the state of Florida will be responsible for funding (or fundraising), developing, and constructing a counterpart monument to the Andrew Jackson Monument at Madison Street Park (Marianna, Florida) in honor of some local Jackson County hero who is either Black or Native American (or both)—call this the “Whole Truth Monument.”

·      The Whole Truth Monument should be equal (or greater) in height, length, and width to the Madison Street Park Andrew Jackson Monument. 

·      The relevant public officials mentioned in the first bullet point should be responsible for working with local churches and community organizations (e.g., NAACP, Women League of Voters, Second West Baptist Association, etc.) to host a to-be-determined number of public forums to vote on which local Black or Native American (or both) hero should be chosen as the honoree for the Whole Truth Monument. There is not specific historical era that the honoree must be drawn from.  

·      Any other questions, concerns, or ideas should be submitted to the official government steering committee should this entity come into existence. 

 

WE STRONGLY HOPE THAT YOU WILL SIGN THIS PETITION, AS WELL AS SHARE THIS THROUGH YOUR VARIOUS SOCIAL AND PROFESSIONAL NETWORKS. 

MORE SIGNATURES = MORE POLITICAL SUPPORT

AND 

MORE POLITICAL SUPPORT   = A GREATER CHANCE FOR SUCCESS!

 

YOURS IN STRUGGLE,

Dr. Darien Pollock

Founder and President of the Street Philosophy Institute, Inc. (SPI)