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]