{"id":56308,"date":"2023-02-03T16:07:13","date_gmt":"2023-02-04T00:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=56308"},"modified":"2023-02-03T16:07:13","modified_gmt":"2023-02-04T00:07:13","slug":"in-florida-schools-a-blatant-attempt-to-divide-communities-of-color","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=56308","title":{"rendered":"In Florida Schools, a \u2018Blatant Attempt to Divide Communities of Color\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By<\/span>Sunita Sohrabji<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Florida is considering an AAPI curriculum in the state’s K-12 public schools just as it recently rejected an AP African American course. AAPI advocates see an effort to divide communities of color.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention photo via Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Controversy swirls around the K-12 school curriculum in Florida where, under pressure from Gov. Ron DeSantis, the College Board released a new, stripped-down version of an AP African American studies course. The move comes as state lawmakers consider implementing an Asian American studies program statewide.<\/p>\n

Civil rights advocates describe the move as a \u201cblatant attempt to divide communities of color\u201d in the state.<\/p>\n

They are \u201cweaponizing the use of race,\u201d said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC). \u201cThis is whitewashing history. It is not a proper understanding of history.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bowing to DeSantis\u2019 objections, the College Board Feb. 1 released a new, stripped-down version, taking out references to the Black Lives Matter movement, Black writers who also happened to be gay, the Black feminist movement, the quest for reparations, and Black queer history, among other subject matters.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s one of the lessons about? Queer theory. Now who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda on our kids,\u201d said DeSantis at a speech he gave in Florida last month.<\/p>\n

At around the same time, members of the Florida state House of Representatives introduced a bill Jan. 19 \u2014\u00a0HB 287\u00a0<\/a>\u2014 that would mandate the teaching of Asian American studies at all of the state\u2019s public schools. A similar bill \u2014\u00a0SB 294<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 was introduced in the Florida state Senate. Both bills have broad bi-partisan support, and if passed, would go into effect on July 1 of this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just want us to recognize Asian American culture and teach the young people about that culture,\u201d said Democratic State Sen. Linda Stewart in a press statement. \u201cIf they learn about it, then they are less likely to go on the street and beat \u2018em up because that\u2019s what they are doing. They are shooting them and beating them up,\u201d she said, referring to the spike in anti-Asian American hate crimes and incidents.<\/p>\n

\u2018Stop WOKE Law\u2019<\/h2>\n

But Yang says it\u2019s critical that the histories of all communities are taught for a fuller picture of the American experience. \u201cWe want a full telling of history,\u201d he said. \u201cAll communities of color must work together to ensure that all of our histories, including their complexities, are taught. All of our histories are relevant.\u201d<\/p>\n

DeSantis is widely expected to make a run for the White House in 2024. Like many Yang suspects this latest clash in the nation\u2019s culture wars is part of efforts to shore up his base ahead of a presidential bid.<\/p>\n

The long-time Asian American advocate noted that similar battles were being fought in other states over the teaching of Black history. For example, in December 2021, the Texas State Legislature passed a \u201cCritical Race Theory\u201d bill which bans public school teachers from discussing race in their classrooms. Florida has its \u201cStop WOKE\u201d law with a similar mandate.<\/p>\n

Maulik Pancholy<\/h2>\n
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