Kamala Harris criticizes Florida extremists amid DeSantis education clash.
Vice President Kamala Harris Speaks Out Against Florida’s New Black History Standards
Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a passionate speech on Friday, addressing the controversial new standards for teaching black history in Florida. These standards, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, have sparked a national debate.
“I do believe this is not only about the state of Florida, there is a national agenda afoot,” Harris said to a riled crowd Friday afternoon.
The Florida Board of Education recently voted unanimously to update the curriculum, which now includes instruction on how enslaved people benefited from the skills they acquired. This decision has faced criticism and sparked heated discussions.
DeSantis Fires Back at Harris
In response to Harris’ comments, Governor DeSantis took aim at the Harris-Biden administration, accusing them of being obsessed with Florida while ignoring pressing issues such as border chaos, crime-infested cities, economic challenges, and the military recruitment crisis.
Harris, during her speech, refrained from mentioning DeSantis by name. Instead, she referred to Florida’s “extremist” leaders and their recent efforts to target liberal ideals.
“Extremists, so-called leaders, for months have dared to ban books, book bans in this year of our Lord 2023,” Harris said. “Extremists here in Florida pass a law don’t say gay, trying to instill fear in our teachers that they should not live their full life and love who they love.”
Harris urged attendees not to be distracted by attempts to divide the country and emphasized the importance of unity.
Controversial Curriculum Changes
The updated standards highlight the skills developed by enslaved people that could be applied for their personal benefit. Critics argue that this approach downplays the horrors of slavery and whitewashes history.
“And now on top of all of that, they want to replace history with lies, middle school students in Florida to be told that enslaved people benefited from slavery,” Harris said. “High schoolers may be taught that victims of violence, of massacres, were also perpetrators.”
These changes were implemented in response to the Stop WOKE Act, signed into law by Governor DeSantis in 2022. The act mandates that discussions about race be taught objectively, without indoctrination or persuasion.
Teaching the Truth
Vice President Harris stressed the importance of teaching children the truth about the nation’s history, ensuring they are prepared for the world beyond the classroom.
“We will stand united as a country,” Harris said. “We know our collective history. It is our shared history. We are all in this together. We know that we rise and fall together as a nation. And we will not allow them to suggest anything other than what we know the vast majority of us have so much more in common than what separates us.”
It remains to be seen how this debate will unfold and what impact it will have on the education system in Florida and beyond.
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