Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) defended Florida’s contentious curriculum on the history of slavery after drawing intense criticism from both sides of the political aisle.
Nearly two weeks ago, Vice President Kamala Harris condemned the school curriculum’s inclusion of a line that stated black “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.” On Monday, DeSantis invited Harris to Florida to discuss the state’s updated black history standards with one of the academics who helped create them. Additionally, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) and Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) joined in to push back against the curriculum’s passage.
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Speaking with Fox News host Harris Faulkner on Wednesday, DeSantis said many of the critics were acting in “bad faith.”
DeSantis on Fox News defends Florida's new slavery curriculum: "People acquired skills in spite of slavery, not because of it, and then they used those when they achieved their freedom." pic.twitter.com/BcxzZ9CQEk
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 2, 2023
“This was done by black history scholars, most of whom are black themselves. They are not shilling for slavery. They are showing the injustice of slavery,” DeSantis said. “But that particular passage wasn't saying that slavery was a benefit. They were saying there was resourcefulness and people acquired skills in spite of slavery, not because of it. And then they used those when they achieved their freedom.”
“I'm fighting back against false narratives,” the Florida governor added. “I do not let people like Kamala Harris or the media take false narratives and run with them. We will stand our ground and we will speak the truth.”
After the vice president voiced her comments, Dr. William Allen, who helped write the 200-page Florida curriculum, explained the controversial line was an important addition to the curriculum to teach the stories of black people who persevered under enslavement.
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Despite all the criticism, DeSantis stood by his state’s new guidelines.
“I think it's very clear that these guys did a good job on those standards. It wasn't anything that was politically motivated. These are serious scholars,” DeSantis concluded. “So don't side with Kamala on that. Stand up for your state.”