Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial ban on an Advanced Placement African American studies course in the state’s schools has sparked a firestorm of criticism—among lawmakers, educators and activists. Civil rights leaders mobilized against it at a rally in Tallahassee. Attorneys have threatened lawsuits. And voices from academics and historians to Vice President Kamala Harris (D) have accused DeSantis of scapegoating Black history and culture for political gains.
Backlash: Inside Florida’s African American Studies Ban
To history professor Erin D. Chapman, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ restrictions on the AP curriculum is a dangerous precedent—for educators and a divided country.
February 1, 2023