In a town hall event in Des Moines, Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina expressed his disapproval of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the controversial new standards regarding the teaching of Black history in middle schools. These standards include the instruction that “slaves developed skills” that could benefit them personally. Scott rejected any notion of a silver lining in slavery, emphasizing its devastating nature of separating families, mutilating humans, and rape. He called on all individuals, especially those running for president, to appreciate the gravity of slavery’s true impact.
Scott also suggested that Florida’s Black history standard should be scrutinized during the campaign trail, indicating that DeSantis should clarify his position on the matter. When initially confronted with criticism, DeSantis distanced himself from the standards, stating that he was not involved in their creation. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticized DeSantis’ response, asserting that it lacked leadership qualities.
GOP Rep. Byron Donalds, the only Black member of Florida’s congressional delegation, faced backlash for his mild criticism of the standard. He praised the overall curriculum of the Florida Education Department but called for a correction to the representation of the personal benefits of slavery in the standards. DeSantis’ allies attempted to link Donalds to Vice President Kamala Harris, who had criticized the standards during a speech in Jacksonville.
Manny Diaz Jr., Florida’s education commissioner, questioned Donalds’ conservative stance and accused him of aligning with Democrats who had also condemned the standards. DeSantis’ press secretary, Jeremy Redfern, defended Florida’s commitment to teaching accurate history, implying that Donalds should not seek support from the liberal media like Vice President Harris.
During his interaction with reporters in Iowa, DeSantis defended the establishment of the new standards, accusing Harris of using the issue to gain political advantage. He compared the language in the controversial standards to that of an AP African American Studies course framework initially rejected by Florida. The framework mentions how enslaved people “learned specialized trades and worked as painters, carpenters, tailors, musicians, and healers in the North and South,” using these skills to provide for themselves and others after gaining freedom.
Donalds, who was previously an ally of DeSantis and endorsed former President Donald Trump, argued on social media that his comments were being misinterpreted by those seeking political points. In an interview with CBS News, DeSantis denied picking a fight with Donalds and urged his colleagues in Florida to stand up for their state and not align with Kamala Harris.
In conclusion, Sen. Tim Scott strongly criticized Florida’s new Black history standards, highlighting the devastating effects of slavery and calling for a proper understanding of its history. He also called for clarification from his presidential campaign opponents, including Ron DeSantis, regarding their positions on the matter. The response from various parties involved, including DeSantis, Donalds, and Harris, has generated controversy and political statements.
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