Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Faces Backlash Over Comments on Slavery in State Curriculum

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is facing backlash for his controversial comments on slavery and the new African American history standards in the state’s public school curriculum. DeSantis argued that some Black people benefited from being enslaved, sparking outrage from civil rights leaders, scholars, and even members of his own party.

During a press conference, DeSantis suggested that enslaved individuals were able to develop skills that could benefit them in the future, such as becoming a blacksmith. This statement was met with criticism from educators and politicians, including former U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, who denounced the idea that slavery was a beneficial training program.

Despite the backlash, DeSantis continues to defend Florida’s new curriculum, which includes the assertion that slaves developed skills that could be applied for their personal benefit. The Governor claimed that the curriculum was created by scholars and offers comprehensive standards in African American history.

Vice President Kamala Harris also weighed in on the controversy, condemning DeSantis’s remarks and emphasizing the brutal realities of slavery, including rape and torture. Other critics, such as Florida State Rep. Fentrice Driskell, accused DeSantis of downplaying the horrors of slavery and perpetuating an assault on Black history.

While some on the right, like Fox News host Jesse Watters, defended DeSantis’s comments as highlighting the development of skills during slavery, others, including Biden campaign co-chairman Cedric L. Richmond, labeled the defense as “disgusting” and symptomatic of extremism among Republican presidential candidates.

Overall, the controversy surrounding DeSantis’s remarks has sparked a heated debate over the representation of slavery in education and the importance of acknowledging the true horrors of this dark chapter in American history.