By Ryan Dailey, The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Saying that an African-American studies course “lacks educational value,” Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is defending its rejection of the curriculum, while Black religious leaders and elected officials are pledging to “fight like hell” against the decision.
Black lawmakers, religious leaders and local elected officials are organizing events to speak out after the state Department of Education’s Office of Articulation on Jan. 12 sent a letter advising a senior director at The College Board that the Advanced Placement African American Studies course won’t be offered in Florida public schools. The College Board develops Advanced Placement courses.
House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, said Monday the DeSantis administration’s decision is the “first of what I believe will be many attempts to whitewash history in order to suit emotionally fragile people.”
But during a news conference in Jacksonville, DeSantis defended the rejection, which has drawn national media coverage in recent days and criticism from the Biden administration.
“We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think, but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them. When you try to use Black history to shoehorn in queer theory, you are clearly trying to use that for political purposes,” DeSantis said.
Advanced Placement, or AP, courses are college-level classes offered to high-school students.
The Department of Education last week published a list of “concerns found within” the course and focused on five topics: “intersectionality and activism,” “Black queer studies,” “movements for Black lives,” “the reparations movement” and “Black study and Black struggle in the 21st Century.”
“Intersectionality is foundational to CRT (critical race theory), and ranks people based on their race, wealth, gender and sexual orientation,” one of the listed concerns said. DeSantis frequently decries critical race theory, which is based on the premise that racism is embedded in American society, characterizing the theory as a vehicle for the indoctrination of students.
The department said a concern about instruction related to the reparations movement is that all “points and resources in this study advocate for reparations.”
“There is no critical perspective or balancing opinion in this lesson,” the department said.
The department also took issue with several authors whose works would have been required reading in the course.
But the rejection has drawn widespread criticism from Democrats and Black leaders.
“It is incomprehensible to see … this ban, or this block, to be more specific, that DeSantis has put forward. If you think about the study of Black Americans, that is what he wants to block,” Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, said during a press briefing Friday.
Meanwhile, the NAACP said in a statement Monday that it is “outraged” about the education department’s “‘whitesplaining’ of Black history and culture.”
Also, state Sen. Shevrin Jones, D-West Park, announced a news conference will be held Wednesday at the Capitol with Black leaders, including prominent civil-rights attorney Ben Crump.
A coalition of Black religious and community leaders in Tallahassee gathered Monday at the city’s Bethel Missionary Baptist Church to announce a Feb. 16 rally that will include national civil rights and faith leaders.
“Black history matters. Black history is not inferior. And Black history does not lack educational value,” the Rev. R.B. Holmes, pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist, said.
“We’re organizing a campaign to have a real conversation, a positive conversation, on the quality of teaching and learning about all people’s history — and not at the expense of erasing and eliminating Black studies,” Holmes added.
Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis Richardson, who joined Holmes at a news conference, said Black leaders would prefer to open a dialogue with the governor.
“We welcome a conversation and dialogue with the governor, if he is amenable to that. If not, we will fight like hell to make sure that African American history continues to be a part of American history,” Richardson, a former state House member, said.
But DeSantis press secretary Bryan Griffin said in a statement that, “As submitted, the course is a vehicle for a political agenda and leaves large, ambiguous gaps that can be filled with additional ideological material, which we will not allow.”
Griffin also pointed to parts of Florida law that require teaching Black history in public schools.
“Instructional materials shall include the vital contributions of African Americans to build and strengthen American society and celebrate the inspirational stories of African Americans who prospered, even in the most difficult circumstances,” one part of the law says.
God, the people on this thread are stupid.
CRT isn’t even what the Republicans think it is. It’s just being used a buzzword to rally the conservative racists without trying to appear as racist as they are. It’s as clear as the DeSantis coded remark about “monkeying” around.
The word “Intersectionality” simply means that racism, class, sexism, ageism, etc. do not exist alone in a vacuum. Many of society’s worst problems are tied together. That’s just common sense.
And as far as a passing mention of the African-American LGBTQ, what is wrong with that? Those people exist. Why should they left out of history? Not everyone is a middle-aged straight racist white man. Thank God.
When did the history of black people and queer theory become linked together? I can’t keep up with the ever-changing narratives thrown at us.
Mr Ed
You ask, “where is your outrage over the 75% out-of-wedlock birth rate, unfettered crime, irresponsible and absent fathers, rampant illiteracy, and entitlement mattress mentality?”
There is no outrage only at public officials who refuse to go soft on crime, reward such with special programs on top of special programs, more nonprofits funded by taxpayers for more handouts, free rent, free nail and hair weaves, free abortions, and a free ride for absentee fathers. The only thing Curtis is good at in my opinion is manipulating RB Holmes. The Reverend should be giving counsel to his flock and especially to Curtis, who needs it.
““Instructional materials shall include the vital contributions of African Americans to build and strengthen American society and celebrate the inspirational stories of African Americans who prospered, even in the most difficult circumstances,””
Like how a VP climbed the Ladder on her Knees?
Marxicrats are very good at deception, and cloaking their true intent with emotional trigger phrases and titles like “African-American Studies”. Governor DeSantis details quite clearly what the concerning and destructive agendas are that are hidden within the course. But as you will note, none of these so-called “leaders” address those. They simply stay on the talking point of… wait for it… race.
I would like to ask the so-called leaders of our communities of color – particularly those in the faith-based arena – where is your outrage over the 75% out-of-wedlock birth rate, unfettered crime, irresponsible and absent fathers, rampant illiteracy, and entitlement mattress mentality?
As always… You will never solve a problem you refuse to acknowledge.
This really isn’t an issue about disparity this is about Curtis attempting to seek publicity publicity and a PR stunt for his next reelection campaign. Curtis should do something about the crime instead.
Governor DeSantis Best Governor in America!
I don’t know what Curtis is so upset about, it’s an “AP” course… so that means Asians won’t get their dose of Black History. No big deal, I’ll bet there aren’t any remedial Asian History courses, so it all evens out.
On this subject the players all know its a waste of time and money to try to make Desantis back down. So that is not whats happening with the “debate”. Political posturing pure and simple.