February is Black History Month in America, and Black lawmakers, alongside activists, are playing the race card against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers for acknowledging the monthly celebration of African-American history in the U.S. Gov. DeSantis is being accused of declaring "war on Black people."
State Senator Shevrin Jones called Gov. DeSantis’s recent controversial banning of AP African-American studies at colleges and universities nothing more than “the promotion of Jim Crow 3.0 by ppl who don’t know & don’t care about what’s happening in the Black communities, but desire to referee how our history is taught.”
The controversy began after The College Board published its updated curriculum which excluded much of the “woke” topics within AP African American studies Gov. DeSantis and his administration have been railing against and subsequently rejected by the Florida Department of Education
Sen. Jones’s equating Gov. DeSantis’s move to ban the teaching of what the Governor calls ”woke” ideology to Jim Crow is as controversial as it could possibly get.
State Rep. Michelle K. Rayner-Goolsby is adding to Sen. Jones’ remarks, taking issue with Florida House Republicans for stating,” “Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Black Americans.”
Republicans also asked constituents to “join” them in recognizing the contributions Black Americans have made in all aspects of society.
I need y’all to stop. This is ridiculous and insulting.
I would rather you not even acknowledge BHM. You do everything possible to harm us + silence us. Don’t gaslight us. When you can stand up to Ronald Dion and his attack on Black folks- until then- miss me with this. https://t.co/sK4zjgjxKE
— Michele Rayner-Goolsby (she/they) (@micheleforfl) February 2, 2023
“I need y’all to stop. This is ridiculous and insulting. I would rather you not even acknowledge BHM. You do everything possible to harm us + silence us. Don’t gaslight us. When you can stand up to Ronald Dion and his attack on Black folks- until then- miss me with this,” stated Rep. Rayner-Goolsby.
Rep. Rayner-Goolsby also repeated the current narrative that Republicans, namely DeSantis, have “declared war on Black people” and are trying erase black history by trying to “erase Black LGBTQ history.”
The Banned Topics
College Board’s AP African-American Studies course contained six topics that were considered major concerns for the state. These topics include: “Intersectionality and Activism”, “Black Queer Studies”, “Movements for Black Lives”, “Black Feminist Literary Thought”, “The Reparations Movement”, “Black Study and Black Struggle in the 21st Century”. All of these are confirmed to be in violation of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s (R) Stop WOKE Act.
Ever since he signed the “Stop WOKE Act” into law in 2022, DeSantis has been steadfast in his effort to prevent students from having someone’s or some group’s ideology pressed upon them.
"Higher education though, we believe in Florida that it's about academic excellence and the pursuit of truth. We don't believe higher education should be for social justice or to impose an ideology on the students," said DeSantis.
"We have guidelines and standards in Florida. We want education, not indoctrination. If you fall on the side of indoctrination, we're gonna decline. If it's education, then we will do." DeSantis continued saying, "Who would say that an important part of black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda on our kids."
DeSantis recently replaced New College of Florida President Patricia Okker with former Department of Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran.
DeSantis made the announcement to replace Okker with Corcoran this week because he wants "actual history, actual philosophy that has shaped Western civilization” to be taught at the school.
