Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and other lawmakers defend the state's new Black History curriculum amid widespread criticism.
On Monday, the governor and his allies doubled down on their stances even in the face of threats of potential legal action from a group of civil and religious leaders. On the other hand, Black leaders and Democratic lawmakers, as well as some Republicans, are using the situation to criticize DeSantis and his ambitions for the top seat in the White House.
Florida Defends New Black History Curriculum
The opposition is specifically targeting the newly-implemented standards that now require middle schoolers to receive instruction that claims that enslaved people could develop skills that, in some cases, could be applied for their benefit.
But the DeSantis administration has tried to characterize criticisms of the history standards as dishonest and a political stunt that was perpetrated by Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, in an attempt to tarnish the state of Florida, as per Politico.
The recent controversy has once again thrust the state of Florida and DeSantis into the country's politically polarized fight over how and what topics to teach children. Republican lawmakers have praised the governor and state education officials for his continued support of controversial education measures.
These include DeSantis pushing the state's Parental Rights in Education law, known by opponents as "Don't Say Gay." It restricts lessons about race and bans colleges and universities from spending on programs tackling diversity, equity, and inclusion.
On the other hand, Democratic lawmakers and many civil rights groups have demonized the Florida governor and the state over such bills and warned of boycotts. In a statement, the pastor of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Rev. R.B. Holmes Jr., said that DeSantis will not be able to rewrite and redefine Black history.
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Claiming Slavery Taught Valuable Skills
During an interview, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said that DeSantis started the current situation with the bill that he signed. According to NBC News, he claims that the Florida governor is now refusing to take responsibility for the consequences of his actions.
In response to the criticism, DeSantis posted on Twitter, accusing Harris and other Democratic lawmakers of lying about the educational standards to "cover for their agenda." The Florida governor also dismissed the vice president's reaction to the standards as "absolutely ridiculous" and "totally outrageous."
When DeSantis was asked about the board's wording of the curriculum change, the Florida governor said he did not do it and was not involved in making it. However, he later said that they were trying to show that some people who were thrust into slavery were able to do other things later in their lives.
Additionally, former US Rep. Will Hurd criticized the idea that enslaved people could use their suffering as some training program. He said that slavery was not a jobs program that taught victims beneficial skills, said the Washington Post.
