Let’s Not Forget

By: Niya Jones

An uproar of criticism erupted shortly after the State Board of Education of Florida approved new requirements for teaching African American history earlier this month. It was mostly directed at two sections: one that claimed slavery had some positive effects on Black Americans and another that omitted important details about racial violence. After Governor Ron DeSantis signed the Individual Freedom Act, commonly referred to as the Stop Woke act, these new criteria were drafted: exclusion of any instruction that would cause someone to experience psychological distress or guilt due to their race. For example, according to the Black History benchmarks students in the sixth through eighth grade are taught about the history of the slave trade, early slave uprisings, and some of the legislative laws pertaining to slavery, including the Three-Fifths Compromise.

 

This is the portion that contains or shows how students can gain their own personal endeavors and opinions on race and African American culture. According to the guideline, educators should talk about the types of work that slaves did, such as farming, blacksmithing, and painting, and then demonstrate how, “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” However, this shadows the fact that slavery was one of the most brutal and harsh experiences that Black African Americans had to go through. Them acknowledging that slaves learned skills during slavery and not acknowledging the mental and physical horrific impact that Black African Americans had to go through is absurd and cruel. I do agree that slaves learned skills while enslaved, however I do not think we should only acknowledge that part because it is making an excuse for people to treat others like that because of their race. 

 

Approximately three years ago, DeSantis signed a measure mandating the massacre to be taught in Florida classrooms. This is a true standard according to National Black Justice Coalition, executive director David Johns, described the “violence” as vital survival strategies, such as revolt and resistance. The new Florida criteria, he claimed, are more focused on “balance,” which he referred to as “educational malpractice.” Florida State Senator Geraldine Thompson believed that the examples of violence against and by African Americans that the standards give, according to her, disregard the circumstances surrounding the possible occurrence of that violence. Black males used their right to vote, which led to the Ocoee massacre for example, yet the standards’ wording suggests that Black and White people were equally violent, and I agree.

 

Nevertheless, I think Florida legislators and everyone who is supporting this is trying to stop the evolution of Black African Americans. The criteria in these standards that teachers are to suppose teach are biased and masks the American evolution and not only African Americans. Racial acknowledgment is one thing that the United States government has a hard time processing because it can because tension in society; however, I think forgetting or disregarding certain obstacles people have overcome is equally damaging to society.