Florida’s New Education Standards: The Battle Over Teaching Black History

Florida’s new education standards for Black history curriculum are facing backlash from teachers, students, and community members. The standards require middle school students to learn about how enslaved people developed skills for their personal benefit. However, many argue that this narrative downplays the harsh realities of slavery and erases the experiences of those who suffered. Around 100 activists and community members gathered in Miami to protest the new standards, chanting “Teach the truth!” and urging educators to reject the state’s narrative on slavery. Miami-based historian Marvin Dunn, who has been leading “Teach the Truth” tours to educate teachers and families outside the classroom, spoke to teachers about the history of the Ocoee Race Massacre and emphasized the importance of teaching accurate and unbiased history. The controversy surrounding Florida’s Black history curriculum comes as Governor Ron DeSantis continues to make the culture war against “woke” ideology a central focus of his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Critics argue that the changes risk erasing Black history in classrooms and are attempting to sugarcoat the realities of Black history. In response, protestors are demanding that the truth be taught and that children not be used as pawns in this political game.