The Kentucky Faith and Public History Education Project
provides and produces resources about Kentucky’s Christian history in terms
appropriate for the K-12 public school classroom. Often this is best achieved
by sharing the stories of people who attributed their successes to their faith.
There is an index of famous Kentucky Christians on the project website[1]
with links to external websites with more biographical information. Frequently
the most difficult thing we do is to find original and verifiable documentation
of their faith. Too often faith is neglected and viewed as marginal or irrelevant. Our project
pulls the strand of faith forward.
Carl Brashear served as consultant to the movie, Men
of Honor, starring Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert DeNiro that portrays his
quest to become the Navy’s first African American Master Diver. It juxtaposes
the cruel racism that Brashear endured in the pursuit of his dream with his
determination and self-control. It is difficult to watch. When you listen to
the interviews Brashear gave and when you read what his family said and what is
written about him on his foundation’s website[2],
the movie’s neglect of faith as a factor that may explain the strength of
character Brashear exhibited throughout his life becomes evident.
Carl Brashear was a man of faith who came from a
faith-filled family. He had uncles who were preachers. His father was a
sharecropper in Tonieville, Kentucky. Carl quit school after the seventh grade.
The challenges of poverty and a limited education combined with systemic racism
to thwart Brashear’s ambitions. The movie centers on Brashear’s passion for
diving. It celebrates how much he honored his father. But there is not one
mention of how much his drive was rooted in faith.
His son, Philip Brashear, adds the element of faith to what
we know about Carl Brashear’s motivations and inspiration. “My father said, ‘You
know what? What’s for me is for me, and what God told me I could accomplish, I
can accomplish despite.’”[3]
Despite the original challenges. Despite losing a leg in an accident at sea. Recalling
a saying his father was fond of saying, Philip Brashear added, “Obstacle in
the way? Deal with it. Move it, knock it down, go around it, obliterate it…’It’s
not a sin to get knocked down. It’s a sin to stay down.’”[4]
Carl Jones wrote a poetic tribute to Carl Brashear. It also
links his achievements to faith: “A true Man of Honor; is not a perfect man;
for it is not in his own strength; that he’s able to stand; But he worships and
serves; a perfect God -for it is He; who gives him the courage; to stand
against all odds…”[5]
Faith matters. Not to discuss it in our classrooms especially
when an individual attributed faith as the reason for their success dishonors
the person and, in our view, does a disservice to every student. The challenge
is to create a vocabulary to discuss faith that is appropriate to the public
school classrooms which is our commitment.
By Lesley Barker, PhD c. 2021
[2] Carlbrashear.org
[3]
Laura Levering. “No Right to Quit – Soldier honors Black History Month by
sharing father’s legacy” ONLINE at https://www.army.mil/article/243268/no_right_to_quit_soldier_honors_black_history_month_by_sharing_fathers_legacy.
ACCESSED 8/30/2021.
[4] Ibid.
[5]
Carl Jones. “A True Man of Honor”. ONLINE at https://carlbrashear.org.
ACCESSED 8/30/2021.
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