Is history written by the survivors or those in power?
Black History Month signifies the victory of a race from oppression. It symbolizes the contribution of African Americans to America’s progress. And the month brings awareness to human rights violations and the generational perils of slavery.
The root of racism can be apathy to history. Early education is a foreground to shape young minds and sow the seeds of their beliefs. Black History Month, celebrated every February, is an acknowledgment of systemic racism in the past and how far the nation has progressed in integrating minorities.
Juneteenth is the celebration of the second independence of America after the Civil War when President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation denoting that slavery shall en considered illegal henceforth.
But Florida’s decision on the “depiction” of Black History Month seems to be a step backward in the purpose of this awareness. Here
Florida State Introduces New Standards For African American History Month
Florida Board of Education released a 216-page document on 19 July, defining the new standards for African American History. The board members appointed by Florida’s Governor Ron DeSantis formulated the memorandum of what and how should be covered while teaching about Black History Month in schools.
But they seem to have missed the whole point of this awareness. Two major issues in this curriculum have sparked a discourse. Let us decode each.
PART 1: Slavery Was For Personal Benefits
The middle school students would be taught a new perspective on what slavery means. According to the Board of Education–
“Slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”
The document also contains clarification for the above statement: “Examine the various duties and trades performed by slaves (e.g., agricultural work, painting, carpentry, tailoring, domestic service, blacksmithing, transportation).”
One of the implications of the above statement is that slavery propelled the integration of the African “immigrants” (who were actually traded) by teaching them relevant skills to fend for themselves.
This is giving the “2019 Kanye West” TMZ interview– “400-year enslavement fo Africans seems like a choice.”
PART 2: 1920 Massacre Was Violence Against & By African Americans
The high school curriculum will include a version of historical events–
“Instruction includes acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans but is not limited to 1906 Atlanta Race Riot, 1919 Washington, D.C. Race Riot, 1920 Ocoee Massacre, 1921 Tulsa Massacre and the 1923 Rosewood Massacre.”
According to prominent historians, this rewrite of actual events leaves out several facts and misconstrues the violent mob attack by white supremacists for a mutual riot.
Reason Behind The Changes In Florida’s Curriculum
The DeSantis administration wants to minimize the “white guilt.” According to the governor, teaching Black History might induce a negative connotation among white children that their race has committed such heinous acts of violence.
Hence, Florida State decided to make updates to the African American history curriculum, citing that the material needs to be censored so that it does not impact young impressionable minds. This controversial 2022 act was called–
“Stop Wrongs To Our Kids and Employees Act,” or “Stop WOKE Act.”
For And Against Arguments For The New Standards Of African American History
“I am very concerned by these standards, especially … the notion that enslaved people benefited from being enslaved. It’s inaccurate and a scary standard for us to establish in our educational curriculum.”
State Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando)
“[I]t suggests that the (Ocoee) massacre was sparked by violence from African Americans. That’s blaming the victim.”
State Sen. Geraldine Thompson (D-Orlando)
The NAACP and the Florida Education Association, with 11 other organizations, wrote a stern letter for their concerns. Here is an excerpt–
“We owe the next generation of scholars the opportunity to know the full unvarnished history of this state and country and all who contributed to it — good and bad.”
But the supporters of these changes believe that the new curriculum met all requirements per the state law in 1994.
According to board member MaryLynn Magar–
“Everything is there.”
“The darkest parts of our history are addressed, and I’m very proud of the task force,” Magar said. “I can confidently say that the DOE and the task force believe that African American history is American history, and that’s represented in those standards.”
Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. –
“As age-appropriate, we go into some of the tougher subjects, all the way into the beginnings of the slave trade, Jim Crow laws, the civil rights movement, and everything that occurred throughout our history.”
What are your thoughts on the new curriculum? Do you think censoring history benefits the current lexicon? Should the new generation be taught revised black history?
Let us know in the comments section below.
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