February is black history month. You probably already knew that. But what you might not know about is Jacksonville’s sordid and shameful history of segregation and racial discrimination. This summer will mark the 50th anniversary of Axe Handle Saturday, a somber day of racial unrest that swept our River City into the ferocious maelstrom of the Civil Rights struggle.

Growing up in Kenya, Libran Jirmo never thought he would see a black president of the U.S. in his lifetime. Facing stereotypes, racism and a lack of freedom every day throughout the majority...