Congresswoman Cherfilus-McCormick Issues Statement Regarding the DeSantis Administration's Rejection of AP African American History Course

This week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' Administration blocked a new Advanced Placement (“AP”) African American history course from being taught in Florida high schools, arguing the course violates state law and is historically inaccurate.

The DeSantis Administration's rejection of the AP course is unfathomable, unsound, and unacceptable. Instead of improving and expanding the quality of education for Florida high school students, this Administration's extreme agenda aims to roll back the clock by denying its students the right to explore the painful, complex, and rich history of African Americans in our country.

The rejection of this course is an attempt to erase from our memory the truth about how hate and bigotry destroyed our nation's moral fabric and ushered it into one of its darkest moments.

Governor DeSantis claims that he wants to protect students from “woke indoctrination.” But what he really wants to do is deny the truth by making bigoted relics and policies more digestible for future generations.

It is only when we acknowledge and learn from our past that we can embrace the present and confidently shape our future.

This blatant attack on the importance and value of African American history and culture fails to move our state and country forward.

America’s diversity is its greatest strength. Every culture must be respected and celebrated.