Ron DeSantis bans African American studies in Florida high schools

Tallahassee, Florida - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has rejected an African American Studies course from Florida's Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum in his latest effort to destroy "wokeness" in education.

Florida governor Ron DeSantis and the state's Department of Education have rejected an African American studies course from its high schools.
Florida governor Ron DeSantis and the state's Department of Education have rejected an African American studies course from its high schools.  © IMAGO / USA TODAY Network

In a letter from The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to the College Board, the organization that helps prepare prospective students for a college education, the department says the contents of the course are "inexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value."

"In the future, should College Board be willing to come back to the table with lawful, historically accurate content, FDOE will always be willing to reopen the discussion," that department added.

According to the Guardian, the College Board announced the new course in the summer of 2022, explaining it will "offer high school students an evidence-based introduction to African American studies."

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The course is the first of its kind to ever be offered by the board, and serves to help high school students earn credits and placement at colleges across the country.

The pilot program was expected to launch in 60 high schools across the US during the 2022-23 school year, expanding to other schools that are interested in the course the following year.

The FDOE didn't explain how that contents of the course violate state law, or what revisions they would like to see before possibly accepting it in the future. The move does fall in line with one of governor DeSantis' most prioritized agendas – keeping whatever he thinks is "woke" out of public spaces.

Ron DeSantis and his war on "wokeness"

Governor Ron DeSantis has led a stern campaign against leftist and "woke" ideologies, stating that "Florida is where woke goes to die."
Governor Ron DeSantis has led a stern campaign against leftist and "woke" ideologies, stating that "Florida is where woke goes to die."  © IMAGO/ZUMA Wire

Governor Ron DeSantis, a former ally of Donald Trump, has made an active effort to ban all conversations and lessons regarding race, sexuality, and gender identity in the state's education system.

He has regularly stoked fears in his white base that woke ideologies are flooding school systems, arguing they retell historical events in an effort to make white American's feel guilty about certain aspects of American history.

In 2022, he fought hard to see the passing of the "Stop WOKE" act, also known as the Individual Freedom Act, which limits discussions based on race in schools, and grants the state government more oversight into courses and lessons.

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During his inauguration this past January 3, DeSantis said, "We seek normalcy, not philosophical lunacy, we will not allow reality, facts and truth to become optional. We will never surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die."

While DeSantis has led his campaign with the motto "Freedom lives here," many have argued his moves are a form of censorship with an arguably racist agenda.

"This political extremism and its attack of Black History and Black people, is going to create an entire generation of Black children who won't be able to see themselves reflected at all within their own education or in their own State," Democratic state state Senator Shevrin Jones said in a tweet.

Ron DeSantis has yet to announce if he plans to run for president in 2024, but recent polls don't give him much of a chance against Donald Trump in a potential Republican primary.

Cover photo: IMAGO / USA TODAY Network

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