Black education activist slams DeSantis over canceling AP course – ABC News
A Black education activist slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ move to ban AP African American studies from the state’s high schools and warned that the move could erase key historical lessons from the classroom.
“It’s going to hurt Black communities and it’s going to hurt those students who would take this class as an option to explore the good, bad and ugly of our history, which makes them better students and better adults for society,” American Federation of Teachers Secretary-Treasurer Fedrick Ingram said in an interview with GMA 3 Thursday.
Last week, the Florida Department of Education rejected the AP course, contending it “inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.”
The move comes a year after DeSantis signed the “Stop WOKE” Act, which restricts race-related content in workplaces, schools and colleges. The law has been temporarily blocked and is being battled in the courts.
Civil Rights attorney Ben Crump speaks during a “Stop The Black Attack” rally against ongoing state legislation at the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee, Florida, January 25, 2023.
Octavio Jones/Reuters
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced Wednesday that a group of students is planning to sue the state over its rejection.
Ingram, who was at Crump’s news conference announcing the suit, said that based on DeSantis’ previous attacks and rhetoric against calls for racial equality, he fears the state’s rejection of the classes is a sign of more controversial oversight to come.
“This is probably step five in a grander scheme of things, because this is hoisting political ideology into our classrooms and into our schools,” Ingram said. “We should trust our teachers to do the right things.”
Earlier in the week DeSantis defended his decision when asked by reporters and alleged the course taught queer theory.
“Who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda on our kids,” he said.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at an annual leadership meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition on Nov. 19, 2022, in Las Vegas.
John Locher/AP
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