Florida town, students resist letting state’s war on Black history be forgotten

Summary

The video script delves into Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's contentious educational policies, focusing on their impact on teaching Black history, particularly the Ocoee Massacre of 1920. It highlights the state's rejection of an AP African American Studies curriculum and the introduction of new standards that mandate a controversial narrative, including the personal benefits of slavery and violence against and by African Americans. The script features interviews with teachers, students, and community members of Ocoee, grappling with the state's historical revisionism and their efforts to preserve the truth of their past.

Takeaways

• 😀 Governor Ron DeSantis has been actively involved in shaping education policies in Florida, particularly focusing on anti-woke initiatives and influencing public classrooms.
• 🏛️ DeSantis' policies have led to restrictions on teaching about racism in Florida schools, impacting how teachers plan their lessons and discuss sensitive topics.
• 🏫 The governor's influence extended to New College, a public liberal arts school, where new trustees were appointed with the goal of promoting conservative values.
• 📚 Florida rejected the AP African American Studies curriculum and introduced new standards for teaching black history, which include controversial elements like the 'personal benefit of slavery'.
• 📜 The new curriculum mandates that lessons on race massacres must include acts of violence by both white and African Americans, which some argue distorts the historical context.
• 🏡 The script discusses the historical event of the Ocoee Massacre in 1920, where African Americans were killed for attempting to vote, and the subsequent cover-up and historical erasure.
• 🔍 The script highlights the ongoing struggle of teachers in Florida to teach the truth under the new standards, with some educators refusing to comply with what they see as a mandate to teach lies.
• 🗣️ Community members and educators in Ocoee are actively working to ensure that the true history of the massacre is not forgotten and is taught accurately.
• 👨‍🏫 Professor Marvin Dunn is highlighted for taking teachers to historical sites to provide them with firsthand knowledge of Ocoee's history, countering the state's narrative.
• 👨‍🎓 Students in Ocoee are determined to learn the truth about their local history, even if it's not being taught in schools, showing a commitment to understanding their past.

Q & A

What was the focus of Governor Ron DeSantis' campaign during the show's first year?

During the show's first year, Governor Ron DeSantis was in the middle of a successful re-election campaign and had just begun his war on 'woke' culture.

How did Governor DeSantis' policies impact Florida schools?

Governor DeSantis' policies led to policing language in Florida schools, making it difficult for teachers to teach about racism if it caused discomfort among students.

What was the significance of New College's hostile takeover by Governor DeSantis?

The hostile takeover of New College was part of an effort to transform the small public liberal arts school into a model of conservatism, with new trustees appointed to achieve this mission.

What was the controversy surrounding the AP African American Studies curriculum in Florida?

Florida rejected the curriculum from AP African American Studies and later approved new standards for teaching Black history, including controversial elements like mandating lessons on the personal benefit of slavery.

What historical event in Ocoee is now being taught in Florida schools due to the new curriculum?

The new curriculum in Florida schools, championed by Governor Ron DeSantis, mandates that students learn about the Election Day riots in Ocoee in 1920.

Why were the events of November 1920 in Ocoee largely forgotten until recently?

The events of November 1920 in Ocoee, which included a massacre and significant loss of life, were largely forgotten until the new curriculum brought them back into focus.

What is the main concern of the teachers and community members in Ocoee regarding the new history standards?

Teachers and community members in Ocoee are concerned that the new history standards require them to teach a distorted version of history that obscures the facts of the massacre and the racial violence against Black citizens.

How are teachers responding to the requirement to teach a certain version of history in Florida?

Teachers are resisting the requirement, stating they will not teach lies and are determined to uphold the truth of history, even if it means defying the state's mandates.

What actions are being taken by the community in Ocoee to address the historical inaccuracies in the curriculum?

The community in Ocoee is getting involved by organizing town hall meetings, starting petitions, and advocating for factual and balanced history to be taught in classrooms.

What is the students' perspective on learning the truth about their local history in Ocoee?

Students are determined to learn the truth about what happened in their own backyard, regardless of what the state of Florida says, and recognize the importance of acknowledging past history for the nation to heal.