The College Board has issued a statement opposing Florida’s new African American history standards, which have faced significant criticism for suggesting that some Black individuals benefited from slavery. In their statement to USA Today, the board, responsible for managing the Advanced Placement program, firmly disagrees with the idea that enslavement was beneficial, productive, or useful for African Americans. They assert that slavery was an atrocity that cannot be justified by examples of agency and resistance during that time. The board also refutes claims made by Florida officials that the state standards align with the AP African American Studies class.
Board officials clarify that while the AP course acknowledges skills that were exploited by enslavers and other valuable skills developed in America, it does not portray slavery as having any beneficial aspects. A New York Times opinion piece by Jamelle Bouie emphasizes that the AP curriculum underscores how enslaved people were unable to use their skills to provide for themselves and others until they gained freedom. Bouie states that the majority of Africans enslaved in North America died while in bondage, with no opportunity to use their skills afterwards.
Furthermore, the AP curriculum uses the term “enslaved” instead of “slave.” Bouie argues that these seemingly minor, semantic differences have a significant impact on the historical narrative. The choice of words and emphasis in history education plays a crucial role in representing a more honest portrayal of American slavery, moving away from the past tendencies of downplaying or ignoring the basic injustice of human bondage. Readers can find the full article on The New York Times website.
NBC News reports that Senator Tim Scott criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is also a Republican presidential candidate, for the state’s black history standards. Scott firmly states that there are no silver linings in slavery.
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