This decision comes after the Florida Board of Education approved the 2024 social studies standards on May 29. Critics, particularly within the Black community, argue that this perspective distorts historical truths and disrespects the experiences of enslaved individuals.

As part of this teaching, educators have been told to teach students how the violence was perpetrated by and against African Americans.

However, according to the new curriculum, the wording has been made so that it makes out that African Americans were the perpetrators of this violence.

Claims were also made that slaves took advantage of the situation they were presented with to be able to benefit themselves and their descendants.

This includes slaves who have gone on to be blacksmiths, such as Ned Cobb and Henry Blair, fishing and shipping industry workers, such as Jupiter Hammon and John Chavis, and teachers, such as Betsey Stockton and Booker T. Washington.

She said, “I’m just baffled because I provided the Department of Education with language that would be less inflammatory and less inaccurate than that statement. It is unbelievable.” 

She said, “What I suggested to them was apparently totally ignored,” indicating a disconnect between the educational authorities and the voices of Black leaders aiming to influence the curriculum’s content.

With Vice President Harris making her opposition to Florida’s new education curriculum clear, the future of this curriculum is unknown.

However, the changes to the African American history section have drawn the most controversy and discussion among the public and educators.

Its teachings were in schools, where claims were made that slave owners would hold picnics for their slaves. 70 years later, Florida has reverted back to following similar teachings.

It prohibits the teaching of critical race theory in K-12 schools and stops school districts, colleges, and universities from hiring CRT consultants.

When children are homeschooled, they don’t have to follow any particular curriculum and it is up to the parents, or whoever is involved in their learning, to come up with the subject matters for their education.

This statement was made in the context of broader curriculum changes across the state.

The FEA acknowledged that many people are divided, especially at the moment, and that the curriculum should aim to help children solve these divisions when they’re adults rather than deepening them.

This could lead to a lot of confusion as, for decades, it has been established that slavery wasn’t a benefit to anyone, so for legislators to turn around and claim that it did is a complete 180.

Their efforts are aimed at removing what they see as a misrepresentation of Black history and its impact on students.

This ongoing struggle highlights the challenges of influencing educational content at the state level.

The debate over this curriculum content reflects broader discussions on how history is taught and whose histories are emphasized.

The community awaits this response, hoping for a possible reconsideration of the curriculum content amid widespread criticism.

Pride month takes place in June, with many places across the world taking part in pride celebrations. Instead, bridges in the Sunshine State are limited to being lit up in just red, white, and blue.

As these workers can suffer severe consequences due to the heat, such as heat stroke, this new law could be catastrophic to them and has led to public cries to change it.

It raises important questions about the role of education in reflecting historical truths versus promoting particular narratives.

This statement reflects the frustration felt by many in the community.

The goal is for future revisions to align more closely with the factual history of African Americans and to foster a comprehensive educational environment.