Miami-Dade Middle School's social studies teacher, Mayade Ersoff, opens a window to America's dark past of slavery through mesmerizing illustrations created by her students. Her teaching style elicits curiosity and insight, fostering a strong desire among children not to replicate past atrocities. However, a new education standard for African American history in Florida is setting the stage for controversy, requiring teachers like Ersoff to insinuate that slaves reaped benefits from their bondage.
Imposed by the state, this new rule obliges middle school students to understand "how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit." The contentious change in curriculum has led to considerable protests in Miami, participated by over a hundred activists and community members. The move, intriguingly, comes as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis concentrates on combating “woke” ideology, establishing it as a centerpiece of his campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.
Earlier in the year, DeSantis refused approval to the College Board's AP African American Studies course due to its lessons on reparations, Black queer studies, and the Movement for Black Lives. The ruling bans teachings resonating privilege or oppression based on racial dynamics or skin color.
Despite the public’s rebuke, DeSantis justified the curriculum alteration as it also highlighted how slaves learnt specialized trades such as painting, carpentry, tailoring, music, and healing, which they incorporated as a means of survival post-emancipation. He denied any political intent behind the curriculum and credited “scholars” for its design.
One notable dissenter to this narrative is Ersoff, who denounced the state's spin on slavery. “These standards are atrocious,” she rebukes. “There are no benefits (to slavery). There are no benefits to being grabbed from your home, shackled on boats, being lynched, being beaten. Not allowed to read and write. And treated like a piece of property."
Local historian Marvin Dunn, in response to this contentious educational obligation, has started conducting Florida Black history tours branded as “Teach the Truth” tours. Echoing Ersoff's sentiments, Dunn instigates the educators not to deviate from the dark truth of racial crimes. With a strong swarm of supporters, Dunn organized a protest march to the Miami-Dade County Public Schools headquarters, demanding truthful historical education for students.
Ersoff, a participant in the march, expressed concerns over the attempt to obscure Black history lessons and its potential long-term impacts on students. “They will graduate not knowing the truth and when they get into the real world, it’s all going to be a shock to them,” Ersoff said. “Leave children out of this political game … and stop using them as pawns.”
The newfound restrictions are not just bothering educators but parents too. Mildred Slocum, while raising her granddaughter, fears the potential eradication of Black history from classrooms. Slocum, like many others, now resorts to extracurricular methods to educate children about the grim realities of slavery. Her granddaughter, Janiyah, believes the state is trying to "sugarcoat" Black history, which could be "detrimental to our community."
Slocum calls upon the citizens to practice their voting rights to counteract these educational alterations “We need people in office who embrace the truth about Black history.”
