Enoch Banks
...so poor whites. During this period, a professor from the University of Florida wrote an article that, while not harshly condemning the South, had basically given an objective view of secession, which at times spoke negatively of the South, as any objective article on the subject would. Because the South could not handle any criticism well at the time, especially from a Southern professor, the Confederate historical societies who had been “purifying” history in the South went on the offensive against Professor Banks, who was completely unaware that his article would be controversial at all until it was too late. Many Florida newspapers wrote several articles condemning Banks’ article and eventually, Banks resigned, not wanting to shame the university further. The University of Florida was caught between try...