Florida bans AP African-American Studies course from schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many racist school districts across the US don't offer an AP African American studies class?

Almost all.

Most school districts don’t offer it — because it’s still a pilot program.
Many do offer African American history/ studies — just not AP, and many more appropriately integrate and teach African American studies throughout the curriculum.

Most high schools that currently teach an African American History/studies course would modify it to prepare for the AP test. Why not? It isn’t and wouldn’t be required for any school. I doubt that many Florida high schools currently have an African American history course. Desantis is just blocking those that do from offering students an AP credit opportunity.

DP. You would be wrong. Black history isn't an elective in Florida schools - it's *mandatory*. All students are taught about black history in the U.S.

Florida mandates instruction on “the enslavement experience,” “the civil rights movement,” and the contributions of black Americans. Three years ago, DeSantis signed a law to teach the 1920 Ocoee massacre, in which a white mob killed dozens of black Floridians - funny how DCUM doesn't see fit to acknowledge any of this.

On the other hand, here are some topics from the proposed AP African American History class, Unit 4:

• “The Reparations Movement,” a topic that “explores the case for reparations,” in which students “may examine House Bill H.R. 40 and a text by Ta-Nehisi Coates.”

• “Movements for Black Lives,” which “explores the origins, mission, and global influence of the Black Lives Matter movement,” some of whose adherents have called for the abolition of prisons and police.

• “Black Queer Studies,” which “explores the concept of the queer of color critique, grounded in Black feminism and intersectionality, as a Black studies lens that shifts sexuality studies toward racial analysis.”

• “‘Postracial’ Racism and Colorblindness,” which “explores concepts such as postracialism, colorblindness, racecraft, or inequality.”

• “Intersectionality and Activism,” which “examines intersectionality as an analytical framework and its connection to Chicana and Asian American feminist thought.” Students “may explore a text” by Kimberlé Crenshaw, whose official Columbia Law School bio says that her work is “foundational in critical race theory.”

“We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think,” the Governor said, “but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them.”

Good for DeSantis.

These are all good topics for discussion when it comes to black people whether you believe it or not. These are relevant topics. You don't get to decide what is important to black people. The point of an AP class is discussion. These are all topics worthy of discussion and debate.

DP. These are topics for discussion and debate, for and against. Not for one side only.

DP. Yep, but can you imagine the blowback on any student (or teacher) who argued against them? No other group of people has their own, separate history course, complete with controversial subjects.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many racist school districts across the US don't offer an AP African American studies class?

Almost all.

Most school districts don’t offer it — because it’s still a pilot program.
Many do offer African American history/ studies — just not AP, and many more appropriately integrate and teach African American studies throughout the curriculum.

Most high schools that currently teach an African American History/studies course would modify it to prepare for the AP test. Why not? It isn’t and wouldn’t be required for any school. I doubt that many Florida high schools currently have an African American history course. Desantis is just blocking those that do from offering students an AP credit opportunity.

DP. You would be wrong. Black history isn't an elective in Florida schools - it's *mandatory*. All students are taught about black history in the U.S.

Florida mandates instruction on “the enslavement experience,” “the civil rights movement,” and the contributions of black Americans. Three years ago, DeSantis signed a law to teach the 1920 Ocoee massacre, in which a white mob killed dozens of black Floridians - funny how DCUM doesn't see fit to acknowledge any of this.

On the other hand, here are some topics from the proposed AP African American History class, Unit 4:

• “The Reparations Movement,” a topic that “explores the case for reparations,” in which students “may examine House Bill H.R. 40 and a text by Ta-Nehisi Coates.”

• “Movements for Black Lives,” which “explores the origins, mission, and global influence of the Black Lives Matter movement,” some of whose adherents have called for the abolition of prisons and police.

• “Black Queer Studies,” which “explores the concept of the queer of color critique, grounded in Black feminism and intersectionality, as a Black studies lens that shifts sexuality studies toward racial analysis.”

• “‘Postracial’ Racism and Colorblindness,” which “explores concepts such as postracialism, colorblindness, racecraft, or inequality.”

• “Intersectionality and Activism,” which “examines intersectionality as an analytical framework and its connection to Chicana and Asian American feminist thought.” Students “may explore a text” by Kimberlé Crenshaw, whose official Columbia Law School bio says that her work is “foundational in critical race theory.”

“We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think,” the Governor said, “but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them.”

Good for DeSantis.

These are all good topics for discussion when it comes to black people whether you believe it or not. These are relevant topics. You don't get to decide what is important to black people. The point of an AP class is discussion. These are all topics worthy of discussion and debate.

DP. These are topics for discussion and debate, for and against. Not for one side only.

DP. Yep, but can you imagine the blowback on any student (or teacher) who argued against them? No other group of people has their own, separate history course, complete with controversial subjects.

And if a teacher or student presented arguments against some of these topics, it could be recorded by someone's phone and posted on Tiktok or YouTube forever. That could be devastating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wonder how many racist school districts across the US don't offer an AP African American studies class?

Almost all.

Most school districts don’t offer it — because it’s still a pilot program.
Many do offer African American history/ studies — just not AP, and many more appropriately integrate and teach African American studies throughout the curriculum.

Most high schools that currently teach an African American History/studies course would modify it to prepare for the AP test. Why not? It isn’t and wouldn’t be required for any school. I doubt that many Florida high schools currently have an African American history course. Desantis is just blocking those that do from offering students an AP credit opportunity.

DP. You would be wrong. Black history isn't an elective in Florida schools - it's *mandatory*. All students are taught about black history in the U.S.

Florida mandates instruction on “the enslavement experience,” “the civil rights movement,” and the contributions of black Americans. Three years ago, DeSantis signed a law to teach the 1920 Ocoee massacre, in which a white mob killed dozens of black Floridians - funny how DCUM doesn't see fit to acknowledge any of this.

On the other hand, here are some topics from the proposed AP African American History class, Unit 4:

• “The Reparations Movement,” a topic that “explores the case for reparations,” in which students “may examine House Bill H.R. 40 and a text by Ta-Nehisi Coates.”

• “Movements for Black Lives,” which “explores the origins, mission, and global influence of the Black Lives Matter movement,” some of whose adherents have called for the abolition of prisons and police.

• “Black Queer Studies,” which “explores the concept of the queer of color critique, grounded in Black feminism and intersectionality, as a Black studies lens that shifts sexuality studies toward racial analysis.”

• “‘Postracial’ Racism and Colorblindness,” which “explores concepts such as postracialism, colorblindness, racecraft, or inequality.”

• “Intersectionality and Activism,” which “examines intersectionality as an analytical framework and its connection to Chicana and Asian American feminist thought.” Students “may explore a text” by Kimberlé Crenshaw, whose official Columbia Law School bio says that her work is “foundational in critical race theory.”

“We believe in teaching kids facts and how to think,” the Governor said, “but we don’t believe they should have an agenda imposed on them.”

Good for DeSantis.

These are all good topics for discussion when it comes to black people whether you believe it or not. These are relevant topics. You don't get to decide what is important to black people. The point of an AP class is discussion. These are all topics worthy of discussion and debate.

DP. These are topics for discussion and debate, for and against. Not for one side only.

DP. Yep, but can you imagine the blowback on any student (or teacher) who argued against them? No other group of people has their own, separate history course, complete with controversial subjects.

No other group has been dragged to the colonies/America, enslaved, brutalized, excluded from every possible avenue of belonging and respect and been so thoroughly erased from history. You white pointy hat people are so effing weird and so openly racist.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think this thread has acknowledged that College Board is revising the class in response to the criticism from Florida. I'm interested to see the new curriculum.

They were already revising it before De Santis did anything. But don't worry, he will take credit for it to pander to his base and get brownie points for it.

[Anonymous]

Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

It's not the history, good and bad, that anyone is objecting to. But if you refuse to listen to any of the well stated or less well stated reasons, to the controversial current issues, then it will be hard for you to engage.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

I'm 54. I absolutely learned all about the Tulsa massacre in school. My kids have learned about it as well. Why? Because it's a factual part of our history and as such, taught in history classes. The "queer experience" is something that ALL races experience. It's not specific to black people, nor should it be taught in history class. Gender studies? Sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

It's not the history, good and bad, that anyone is objecting to. But if you refuse to listen to any of the well stated or less well stated reasons, to the controversial current issues, then it will be hard for you to engage.

+1
The PP doesn't plan on engaging or debating in good faith. She just wants to blather on about how all kids need to learn about "queer studies and intersectionality" rather than just history. Perhaps the College Board will come up with an AP Gender Studies class which will make the PP happy.

[Anonymous]

Why do people who wouldn't let their kids enroll in this OPTIONAL COLLEGE LEVEL course care what other people choose to learn?

Why is it so important for you to restrict access to everybody?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do people who wouldn't let their kids enroll in this OPTIONAL COLLEGE LEVEL course care what other people choose to learn?

Why is it so important for you to restrict access to everybody?

Agreed. I don’t understand the issue with this course. No I don’t think it should be mandatory but it’s optional

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

It's not the history, good and bad, that anyone is objecting to. But if you refuse to listen to any of the well stated or less well stated reasons, to the controversial current issues, then it will be hard for you to engage.

+1
The PP doesn't plan on engaging or debating in good faith. She just wants to blather on about how all kids need to learn about "queer studies and intersectionality" rather than just history. Perhaps the College Board will come up with an AP Gender Studies class which will make the PP happy.

Where did I say all kids need to learn this?? What part of optional do you not understand???? This is not a mandatory class for crying out loud. It’s for people who WANT to learn about those issues. It’s people like you who aren’t engaging in good faith by not wanting that OFFERED as an OPTION.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

I'm 54. I absolutely learned all about the Tulsa massacre in school. My kids have learned about it as well. Why? Because it's a factual part of our history and as such, taught in history classes. The "queer experience" is something that ALL races experience. It's not specific to black people, nor should it be taught in history class. Gender studies? Sure.

I’m also in my mid-50’s, grew up in the midwest, have family ties to Oklahoma, and first heard of the Tulsa massacre around 15 years ago.

And what a weird take that the experience of queer black Americans isn’t something to study in an African American history class. Are they black? Yes? Did they have a different experience than straight black Americans? Why is that something to avoid discussing? Are classes also not supposed to mention what black women experienced in terms of rape by white men?

[Anonymous]

Newsflash. There is no single correct version of history except for the recording of the most basic facts like the day the Constitution was signed and who signed it, the dates of various battles, who was president when, etc. Everything else is interpretation through the lens of specific groups of people. "History" looks different from the eyes of men and women, the conquered and the conquerors, different ethnic and racial groups, the enslaved and the enslavers, the rich and the poor, immigrants and non-immigrants, those with land and those who worked the land, etc. etc. etc. A course that drills down on history through the lens of one group--and within that group all the different sub-groups--has something important to teach anyone who is interested. Those who aren't interested should simply not take it or, in the case of AP classes, let their child take it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

I'm 54. I absolutely learned all about the Tulsa massacre in school. My kids have learned about it as well. Why? Because it's a factual part of our history and as such, taught in history classes. The "queer experience" is something that ALL races experience. It's not specific to black people, nor should it be taught in history class. Gender studies? Sure.

I’m also in my mid-50’s, grew up in the midwest, have family ties to Oklahoma, and first heard of the Tulsa massacre around 15 years ago.

And what a weird take that the experience of queer black Americans isn’t something to study in an African American history class. Are they black? Yes? Did they have a different experience than straight black Americans? Why is that something to avoid discussing? Are classes also not supposed to mention what black women experienced in terms of rape by white men?

Is the "queer experience" discussed in any other AP class? NO? Then, as previously stated, an AP Gender Studies class could be proposed. What a weird take that you think only black Americans have experienced these issues. And even weirder that you think it should be explored in a history class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why are people so afraid of learning the non-White washed history of our country? I get it's ugly and grotesque and hard to imagine that this is the foundation we were built on, but it's accurate and it's untaught. How many of you knew about Tulsa and Black Wall Street until let's say the last 10 years? Most of us didn't, because **we weren't taught the actual history of our country.** We were taught what the throngs of white men decided we should know. This class and others like it are taking a critical look at *actual* history, and *actual experiences* of Black people in our country. If you don't want to learn about it, it's so frickin' simple to not take the class. But it's just as much an "agenda," if not more so, to remove the curriculum entirely than it is to simply let people who are interested take the frickin' class.

I'm 54. I absolutely learned all about the Tulsa massacre in school. My kids have learned about it as well. Why? Because it's a factual part of our history and as such, taught in history classes. The "queer experience" is something that ALL races experience. It's not specific to black people, nor should it be taught in history class. Gender studies? Sure.

I’m also in my mid-50’s, grew up in the midwest, have family ties to Oklahoma, and first heard of the Tulsa massacre around 15 years ago.

And what a weird take that the experience of queer black Americans isn’t something to study in an African American history class. Are they black? Yes? Did they have a different experience than straight black Americans? Why is that something to avoid discussing? Are classes also not supposed to mention what black women experienced in terms of rape by white men?

Is the "queer experience" discussed in any other AP class? NO? Then, as previously stated, an AP Gender Studies class could be proposed. What a weird take that you think only black Americans have experienced these issues. And even weirder that you think it should be explored in a history class.

Who said “only black Americans have experienced these issues”? Oh YOU did, that’s who.

And who thinks you can’t address the same topic in more than one class??? Oh, YOU do! Lol. Tell us you are not a scholar or professor without telling us you’re not a scholar or professor. What a weird thing to argue.

History is never taught merely as a list of “facts.” What a snoozer that would be. But guess what, it’s a fact that there are black queers. Their experience consists of facts. Things happened to them. They can be discussed in — wait for it — an AA STUDIES class. Not an AA HISTORY class. Studies my friend, studies.

In such a class you can study the variety of experiences that different African Americans had, whether they were women, men, straight, queer, northerners, southerners, able-bodied, disabled, hearing or deaf.

And guess what, you can also discuss these things in OTHER classes!! Gender studies if you like. Amazing that learning is like that. You can learn about history in a foreign language or literature class. You can learn about politics in a history class. You can discuss religion in a political science class! Hurrah for academic freedom!