In his ongoing attacks in what he describes as “woke politics,” Florida governor Ron DeSantis has denied permission for an Advanced Placement African American History course to be taught in Florida public high schools. As can be imagined, reaction from many of the political left was nothing short of swift and fierce.
NAACP Director Ivory Toldson condemned the course’s rejection in a statement on Friday: “Ron DeSantis’ flippant dismissal of an AP African American Studies course is not only a dereliction of his duty to ensure equitable education for all Floridians, but shows clear disdain for the lives and experiences that form part of our national history. Dismissing this important subject as lacking ‘educational value’ defies centuries of evidence to the contrary. African American history is American history, and failure to comprehend this very simple fact is un-American in and of itself.”
New York Rep. Ritchie Torres (D) – currently the member of Congress who is both Black and openly gay – similarly tweeted: “Florida has gone from Don’t Say Gay to Don’t Say Black.” Many other prominent celebrities, politicians and regular citizens weighed in on the issue as well.
What is more perplexing or better yet, glaring, is the fact of what subjects were not omitted from the curriculum: AP European History – AP Art History – AP Japanese Language & Culture – AP German Language & Culture – AP Italian Language & Culture – AP Spanish Language & Culture. As can be evidenced, courses from various ethnic groups were given the green light to be taught by the governor’s office, yet the history, politics and culture of people of African descent was prohibited.
Thus, it is blatantly evident that courses that focused on Black people were specifically targeted. Talk about racial profiling! Moreover, in an effort to cover his dishonest butt, DeSantis stated on January 23rd that his reason for banning The AP Black History course was due to the fact that it supported queer studies. So What?! That still is no reason to prevent the teaching of the course!
One of the arguments that the governor has employed to justify his reductive antics is that he wants to make certain that kids are not made to feel ashamed or any degree of discomfort or guilt about themselves due to their race. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that he is referring to white students here. Well, Gov. DeSantis should be aware of the following truths. Non-White students, in particular, Black students have routinely been taught to feel uncomfortable and ambivalent about the history of their ancestors! AND THAT’S THE TRUTH, RUTH!
Despite what governor DeSantis and many of his allies on the right would like to believe, history is far from being a story of blue skies and apple pie! The brutal and psychological demoralizing practice factors of lynching, and Jim Crow perpetrated upon Black Americans did occur! The inhumane atrocities committed against Jewish people during the Holocaust was a reality! The sexism and misogyny directed toward women took place! The various sorts of physical, psychological violence globally employed on LGBTQ people actually happened! Indeed, the truth is that history has been good, bad and downright ugly!
The fact is that young people, by and large, are not ashamed to be introduced to the realities of history. On the contrary, they harbor a ferocious hunger for the truth. Rather, it is their parents and elders that resent being confronted with questions as to why they failed to alert them (the youth) to such truths!
Let’s be candid! Although he has yet to announce, it is hardly news that DeSantis plans to run for president next year. In fact, it is one of the worst kept secrets in the world of politics. Thus, as was the case with his Martha’s Vineyard ploy, he knows that espousing such racially inflammatory commentary coupled with enacting such racially hostile/insulting legislation endears him to a predominately white right wing, MAGA base whose members fear the supposed “great replacement theory,” the arrival of new immigrants and an endemic degree of hostility toward anyone or anything perceived as “the other.” It is the personification of racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism, homophobia and xenophobia.
While he lacks the same level of sinister charisma that Donald Trump embodies, only time will tell whether DeSantis will become the 2024 GOP nominee. However, for the moment, he is feeding his wild-eyed jingoistic supporters, right-winged seasoned catnip to satisfy their reactionary intolerance. He must be combated at every turn!