AP African American Studies Banned in Florida Public Schools
Black History Month begins in 10 days.
January 20, 2023 10:05 am
Illustration by George Bourne (1853) | Columbia
County Observer graphic
By
Trimmel Gomes | Public News Service
TALLAHASSEE, FL – The administration of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has rejected plans to expand an Advanced Placement African American Studies course for high schools, claiming it violates state law and calling it historically inaccurate.
All Florida College System Presidents supported the ban including Florida Gateway College President Dr. Larry Barrett. He said he had "no comment." -- Ed.
In a letter dated January 18, to the College Board that oversees AP programs, the Florida Department of Education rejected the teachings over concern that the lessons run "contrary" to state law and "significantly lack educational value."
Attorney Mutaqee Akbar, president of the NAACP Tallahassee branch, said it's unfortunate to see the governor take this step.
"There's value in education, no matter what that education is," he said, "and so, to carve out the value of learning about African Americans, or the culture of African Americans 'has no value,' I think, is a slap in the face - and blatantly, I think it's racist."
The pilot program made its debut at 60 schools across the country and is slated to expand to others. Details of the curriculum have not yet been made public. The coursework reportedly includes speeches by Malcolm X, the Black Panther Party's free breakfast and medical programs, and the history of Juneteenth, the national holiday commemorating the end of slavery after the Civil War. The Education Department has not named which law it contends the course is violating.
• Pilot: AP African American Studies course for high schools
• FL Dept. of Ed. Press Release Rejecting the AP African Am. Studies Course
• Florida College System Presidents’ Statement
• CS/HB 7 (2022) Overview via FSU
• Chapter 2022-72: the Bill Text
The move is part of the latest crackdown on how race is taught in schools. Akbar said his organization would continue to fight the changes, adding that a judge has already ruled the DeSantis so-called "Stop Woke Act," which regulates lessons on race, is unconstitutional.
"I think we organize the same way they organized in the '60s, same way they organized in the '70s," he said. "I think we get the same energy back that brought these programs into the schools in the first place - to get them back in eventually, or just continue to educate our own children."
In announcing its rejection of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives, the Florida Department of Education did leave the door open for accepting the course later, stating, "In the future, should the College Board be willing to come back to the table with lawful, historically accurate content, FDOE will always be willing to reopen the discussion."
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