Is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (W.O.K.E.) Act an attempt to stymie Black history in public schools and universities?

According to Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones, the governor isn’t attempting to block the teaching not of critical race theory, but Black history itself.

DeSantis said the act is focused on cracking down on pernicious critical race theory concepts in educational and workplace settings.

In June, he joined the state Board of Education meeting to discuss the importance of keeping critical race theory out of the classroom.

Jones recently appeared on CNN’s "New Day" morning show to discuss what he believes is a policy to alter black history.

UGLY TRUTH

"Let’s be clear: This is the Republicans wanting to stop teaching Black history," he said. "Because when you talk about Critical Race Theory, when you talk about the 1619 Project, that’s exactly what this is."

Jones, a Democrat from Hollywood, said the Stop W.O.K.E. Act is a proposed policy similar to the one created years ago during the Jim Crow era that have put Blacks in the position "we are in now."

“Teaching children history, teaching them Black history, which in my mind is American history, and then saying you don’t want your child to learn it, all it does is put us into a predicament where you have children who feel as if it is OK to use racial slurs inside our schools, when children feel it is OK to do the things to make it seem as if they are not a part of what we call America," Jones said.

“It’s an ugly past but there’s a truth to everything that’s happened in the past in the United States of America.”

Jones told the South Florida Times durin that DeSantis’ proposed legislation wants to ban certain words in Black history such as equity, racism and White privilege in teaching Black history.

He also said the legislation would alter the way schools and universities teach about slavery and the civil rights movement.

"He’s doing anything to alter the facts to make it look as if our people are not heroes," Jones said. "It’s whitewashing Black history."

LEGISLATIVE SESSION

Jones said he is raising awareness of DeSantis’ proposal to help defeat it during the 60-day Legislative Session that begins Jan. 11 in Tallahassee.

Two weeks ago, DeSantis announced the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, a legislative proposal that will allow businesses, employees, children and families to fight back against woke indoctrination.

DeSantis said The Stop W.O.K.E. Act will be the strongest legislation of its kind in the nation and will take on both corporate wokeness and critical race theory.

The proposal builds on actions Governor DeSantis has already taken to ban critical race theory and the New York Times’ 1619 project in Florida’s schools.

DeSantis focused heavily on decrying the “cultural Marxism” at the heart of critical race theory.

“In Florida we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory,” DeSantis said in a statement. “We won’t allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other.

"We also have a responsibility to ensure that parents have the means to vindicate their rights when it comes to enforcing state standards. Finally, we must protect Florida workers against the hostile work environment that is created when large corporations force their employees to endure CRT-inspired ‘training’ and indoctrination.”

Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez said she supports DeSantis’ Stop W.O.K.E. Act because it gives students and employees the resources to fight back against discrimination, Critical Race Theory and indoctrination.

"As the daughter of Cuban exiles who fled from Marxist ideology, I am proud to stand alongside Gov. DeSantis and support this proposed legislation that will put an end to wokeness that is permeating our schools and workforce,” said Nunez.

“I’m proud to stand alongside the governor not only of the free state of Florida but the woke-free state of Florida.”

GOVERNOR’S CASE

DeSantis cited as examples of critical race theory: 

▪ A Philadelphia elementary school forced fifth-graders to celebrate “Black communism” and simulated a Black Power rally to “free Angela Davis” from prison. At this school, 87 percent of students fail to achieve basic literacy by graduation. 

▪ Seattle Public Schools told teachers that the education system is guilty of “spirit murder” against Black children and that White teachers must “bankrupt (their) privilege in acknowledgement of (their) thieved inheritance.” 

▪ San Diego Public Schools accused White teachers of being colonizers on stolen Native American land and told them “you are racist” and “you are upholding racist ideas, structures, and policies.” They recommended that the teachers undergo “antiracist therapy.” 

▪ An elementary school in Cupertino, Calif. forced third-graders to deconstruct their racial identities, then rank themselves according to their “power and privilege.” 

▪ A middle school in Springfield, Mo. forced teachers to locate themselves on an “oppression matrix,” claiming that white heterosexual Protestant males are inherently oppressors and must atone for their “covert white supremacy.”

"STOP THE LIES”

In response to DeSantis’ proposal, U.S. Rep. Fredricka Wilson. a Miami Democrat who previously served on the Miami-Dade County School Board and as a longtime principal for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, said Critical Race Theory is not taught in the K-12 public school systems across the country.

"Critical Race Theory is a specialized curriculum offered at selected law schools and graduate programs," Wilson said. "Stop the lies and misinformation."

Palm Beach County School Board member Dr. Debra Robinson said she opposes DeSantis’ proposed legislation because it’s important that all people learn history in its totality.

"This of course includes much of what has been traditionally avoided, including but not limited to the great ancient African civilizations, the resistance movements that helped to mold this great country and the perseverance of African people in the Americas," Robinson said.

"As has been established, Black history, it is important that we all learn, so that we all can work together to make this country as great as its promise."