Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is doubling down on his controversial comments about slavery, saying that some Black people benefited from the institution by learning skills like blacksmithing.
DeSantis made the comments on Friday in response to questions about a new African American history curriculum that was approved by the Florida Department of Education. The curriculum includes a section that discusses the “personal benefits” of slavery for some Black people, such as the opportunity to learn skills that they could use later in life.
DeSantis defended the curriculum, saying that it is important to be “honest” about the history of slavery, even if it is uncomfortable. He also said that the curriculum does not downplay the horrors of slavery, but rather provides a more balanced view of the institution.
“I think it’s important to tell the whole story,” DeSantis said. “And that includes the fact that some people did benefit from slavery, even though it was an evil institution.”
DeSantis’s comments have been met with widespread criticism, with many people calling them insensitive and offensive. The NAACP has called for DeSantis to apologize, and the National Urban League has said that his comments are “a slap in the face to the descendants of slaves.”
DeSantis has shown no signs of backing down from his comments, and he has said that he is “proud” of the new African American history curriculum. It remains to be seen how the curriculum will be implemented in Florida schools, but DeSantis’s comments have certainly sparked a debate about how to teach the history of slavery.
- The NAACP: “The NAACP is deeply disappointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s recent comments about the benefits of slavery. These comments are insensitive and offensive, and they perpetuate harmful stereotypes about Black people. The NAACP calls on Governor DeSantis to apologize for his comments and to work to ensure that all students in Florida learn the truth about the history of slavery.”
- The National Urban League: “Governor DeSantis’s comments are a slap in the face to the descendants of slaves. Slavery was a brutal and dehumanizing institution, and there were no benefits to being enslaved. Governor DeSantis should apologize for his comments and work to ensure that all students in Florida learn the truth about the history of slavery.”
- The Anti-Defamation League: “Governor DeSantis’s comments are ahistorical and offensive. Slavery was a system of chattel bondage that dehumanized and exploited Black people. There were no benefits to being enslaved. Governor DeSantis should apologize for his comments and work to ensure that all students in Florida learn the truth about the history of slavery.”
What do you think of DeSantis’s comments?
