One of the country’s leading Black conservative organizations blasted Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over the state’s new black history curriculum.
This comes after Florida introduced a new curriculum that would teach students that Black people “benefited” from slavery. The Black Conservative Federation condemned the Sunshine State’s new education policies in a statement on Wednesday.
“This stance undermines the historical reality of slavery and the unimaginable hardships endured by millions of enslaved individuals,” the statement read. “In reality, slaves were oppressed and denied access to education, equal opportunities, and social mobility.”
“They were forced to adapt and survive under extraordinary circumstances, showcasing remarkable resilience and resourcefulness. However, attributing their acquired skills as a benefit is an oversimplification and can obscure the true nature of their experiences. Slaves did not have ‘agency!’ They were forced to do jobs without pay. This is not a benefit by any stretch of the imagination,” it continued.
Vice President Kamala Harris also blasted the governor for his state’s attempt to “gaslight” Black people.
“In the state of Florida, they decided middle school students will be taught that enslaved people benefited from slavery,” Harris tweeted. “They insult us in an attempt to gaslight us, and we will not stand for it.”
The Black Conservative Federation went on to warn that DeSantis, who is running for president in 2024, could lose the Black conservative vote in the upcoming elections.
“Positions and implementation of curriculum like this dismiss and misrepresent the experiences of marginalized communities, hinder progress, and will alienate potential supporters,” they said. “In order to grow the party, the GOP must demonstrate a commitment to inclusivity, empathy, and an accurate understanding of our shared history.”
This comes as DeSantis is trailing behind former President Donald Trump in the polls. Most recently, DeSantis dismissed the poor polling and reiterated that he is still the best candidate to beat President Joe Biden.
“Of any Republican in the country, I have the best record of defeating the left. On issue after issue, and we’ll be making that case over the next six or seven months. I’m running to win in January and February. I’m not running to juice polling now,” he said in an interview recently.
