Florida's educational curriculum for K-12 students has undergone controversial changes, leading to backlash against Governor Ron DeSantis.
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The Florida Department of Education rejected an AP African American Studies course, stating it lacked historical accuracy and educational value.
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One contentious statement in the new curriculum suggests that enslaved people received some "personal benefit" from their skills.
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Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the statement as "propaganda," while Fox News' Jesse Watters defended it as "historical fact."
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Black churches in Florida have taken it upon themselves to offer unfiltered lessons on Black history, defying the state-imposed curriculum.
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Pastor Kenneth Johnson of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church conducted an online lesson on the transatlantic slave trade and emphasized the independence of teaching their own history.
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Faith in Florida, a multicultural nonpartisan network, has developed alternative educational resources and an online toolkit to provide a more accurate understanding of African-American history.
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Linda Wiggins-Chavis of Faith in Florida stressed that people came to America with skills, which developed despite slavery, not because of it.
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Rhonda Thomas, executive director of Faith in Florida, highlighted the responsibility to teach an honest version of history that reflects the true experiences of African Americans.
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The move towards structured lesson plans and primary historical sources in teaching Black American history represents a step towards formalization within Black churches and organizations.
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