All articles tagged with #black history curriculum
CNN fact checks Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' comments during the second GOP presidential debate about recent changes to the state's African American history curriculum.
Florida's new education standards for African American history include a controversial benchmark that requires middle school students to learn that slaves benefited from bondage. The changes to the Black history curriculum have sparked protests and backlash from teachers, historians, and parents who argue that it is an attempt to water down and distort the truth about slavery. Critics believe that teaching such a narrative erases the harsh realities of slavery and risks erasing Black history in classrooms. Activists are calling for the truth to be taught and for elected officials who embrace the truth about Black history to be voted into office.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has invited Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss the state's new Black history curriculum after Harris criticized the standards for suggesting that enslaved people benefited from forced labor. DeSantis accused the Biden administration of misinforming Americans and disparaging his state, while defending the "rigorous and comprehensive" standards. The governor's invitation comes ahead of Harris' scheduled trip to Orlando, and he has offered to meet with her and a member of Florida's African American History Standards Workgroup to address the issue. The new standards and DeSantis' defense of them have faced criticism from Black Republicans in Congress.
Dr. William Allen, a co-author of Florida's Black history curriculum, has criticized Vice President Kamala Harris and the media for spreading misinformation about the curriculum. Harris claimed that the curriculum teaches that enslaved people benefited from slavery, which Allen called a "categorically false" statement. He argued that the media, driven by their own agenda, failed to fact-check Harris' claims and instead amplified them. Allen emphasized the importance of reading the curriculum before forming opinions and highlighted that it covers both the harsh conditions endured by enslaved people and their resilience and accomplishments. He believes that the media's reaction is part of a larger effort to impose a false narrative on American history.
Florida officials, including Governor Ron DeSantis, are facing widespread criticism and threats of legal action over the state's new standards for teaching Black history. The standards require middle schoolers to learn about the skills slaves developed for their personal benefit, which has drawn objections from Black leaders, Democrats, and some Republicans. Critics argue that the standards whitewash history and cause psychological trauma for Black students. The DeSantis administration is defending the standards, claiming they were crafted by scholars and not politically motivated. However, the controversy has sparked a politically polarized debate over how race is taught in schools, with Republicans supporting the standards and Democrats and civil rights groups opposing them.
CNN conservative political commentator Scott Jennings criticized Vice President Kamala Harris for claiming that Florida's new middle school black history curriculum includes lessons suggesting that enslaved people benefited from slavery. Jennings argued that the controversy is a "made-up deal" and accused Harris of making something out of nothing. However, fellow commentator Karen Finney praised Harris for speaking out against the idea that there were personal benefits to slavery, calling it a "stellar moment." Another panelist, Ashley Allison, defended Harris's remarks and criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for his stance on various issues.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie criticizes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over his response to the new Black history curriculum approved by the Florida Board of Education. Christie accuses DeSantis of starting the controversy with the bill he signed and then avoiding responsibility for the aftermath. The curriculum teaches that some Black people benefited from slavery, which has drawn criticism from Vice President Kamala Harris and others. DeSantis denies involvement in the curriculum change, prompting Christie to call his remarks lacking leadership and politically manipulative. Christie has frequently attacked DeSantis and other GOP contenders in the early race for the presidential nomination.