YO GOV. DUHSANTIS
SLAVERY WAS NOT CTE
In a recent Twitter post, GOP Rep. John James had some choice words for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. In response to DeSantis' stance on teaching about the "personal benefit" Black people derived from slavery, James tweeted, "@RonDeSantis, #1: slavery was not CTE!"
For those of you not in the know, CTE stands for Career Technical Education. It's a type of education that focuses on preparing students for specific careers, rather than a broad range of subjects. And apparently, DeSantis believes that teaching about the "personal benefit" Black people derived from slavery falls under the umbrella of CTE.
Now, I'm no expert, but I'm pretty sure that slavery was not a career choice. It wasn't something that Black people signed up for because they thought it would be a great way to advance their professional goals. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Slavery was forced upon them, and it robbed them of their freedom, their dignity, and their humanity.
So when DeSantis suggests that teaching about the "personal benefit" Black people derived from slavery is somehow related to CTE, it's not just offensive – it's downright ridiculous.
But James wasn't done there. He followed up his initial tweet with another one that read, "@RonDeSantis, #1: slavery was not CTE!" Yes, you read that right – he tweeted the exact same thing twice. And honestly, I can't blame him. Sometimes you just need to repeat yourself to really drive a point home.
But James wasn't the only one speaking out against DeSantis' stance. The majority of Black Republicans in Congress have also criticized the Florida standards. They argue that teaching about the "personal benefit" Black people derived from slavery is not only inaccurate, but it's also harmful and offensive.
And they're absolutely right. To suggest that there was any sort of "personal benefit" to slavery is to completely ignore the atrocities that were committed against Black people during that time period. It's to minimize their pain and suffering, and to erase their history.
DeSantis' stance on this issue is so far from the Party of Lincoln that it's almost comical. Lincoln was a man who fought tirelessly to end slavery and to ensure that all people were treated with dignity and respect. To suggest that there was any sort of "personal benefit" to slavery is to completely ignore everything that Lincoln stood for.
So let's be clear: slavery was not CTE. Slavery was a horrific institution that robbed Black people of their freedom and their humanity. And anyone who suggests otherwise is either woefully misinformed or willfully ignorant.
It's time for DeSantis to listen to the voices of those who are speaking out against his stance on this issue. It's time for him to recognize the harm that his words and actions are causing. And it's time for him to do better.
GOP Rep. John James slams DeSantis for curriculum comments on slavery: ‘You’ve gone too far’ | The Hill https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4126095-rep-john-james-slams-desantis-for-curriculum-comments-on-slavery/
Black Republicans rebuke Ron DeSantis over Florida history standards about slavery https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/tim-scott-rebukes-ron-desantis-florida-black-history-standards-slavery-rcna96787
Third Black GOP Congressman Calls Out DeSantis ... - Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoniopequenoiv/2023/07/28/third-black-gop-congressman-calls-out-desantis-over-florida-slavery-curriculum-gone-too-far/
