WASHINGTON — Two prominent Democratic governors are taking a back seat against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. After his administration blocked the teaching of an advanced vocational course on African American studies.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has called on the college board to appease likely 2024 Republican presidential candidate DeSantis and not change the course curriculum. California Governor Gavin Newsom also expressed anger at Republicans’ concerns about the class following a string of shootings. Both Democratic governors are also considered potential future presidential candidates.
In a letter to the College Board, Pritzker wrote, “Today I am asking you to urge the College Board to maintain Governor DeSantis’ political grandstand and the fundamental right to an education that is not subject to the whims of Florida Republicans. I am writing a letter,” he wrote. NBC News, first reported by the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Recent news reports say Governor DeSantis is pressuring college boards to change AP African American studies courses to comply with Florida’s racism and homophobia laws,” Pritzker said. “I’m very troubled by the tragedy of the United States,” and called on the College Board to “refuse to bow” to the political pressure to rewrite our country’s true and sometimes unsavory history. “
DeSantis’ administration earlier this month rejected the AP African American Studies program in a letter to the College Board that oversees AP classes.
pointed state 6 concerns By Kimberly W. Crenshaw. Gloria Jean Watkins, known by her pseudonym Bellhook. Angela Davis; and other black authors. And at a press conference on Monday, DeSantis and school board member Manny Diaz Jr. said the course is a combination of black experience and African American history (mandated by the state).
Asked about the course at a press conference on Monday, DeSantis said, “Florida has guidelines and standards and wants education, not indoctrination.” Queer theory..it’s someone pushing an agenda on our children.”
Pritzker, meanwhile, said the state of Illinois said that AP courses focused on African-American studies “include factual accounts of history, including the role played by black queer Americans.” said he expects
Pritzker said many students who take the class “encounter racism on a personal and organizational level long before they enter high school.” They deserve to learn “an honest and accurate history of the country in which they live now”, he continued, so that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
Newsom, meanwhile, appeared resentful of Republicans as he dealt with the aftermath of three shootings in California that have killed at least 19 people in the past few days.
“We can sit there and say our thoughts and prayers, or we can look in the mirror and say this is the price. This is what fills the void: freedom,” Newsom said Wednesday. told reporters on
Newsom suggested that Republicans “don’t believe in public safety” because they haven’t taken action after the mass shootings to prevent another one.
“Last year’s biggest deaths for children were gun-related and you did nothing. Congress is sitting on this, but we have politicians banning the word Latin, not assault rifles.” Serious…AP course,” he said. “What is going on in this country?”
The College Board announced Tuesday that it will release a new framework for AP courses. The Florida Department of Education said it has not yet been released, but would welcome revisions.
Amanda Turkel contributed.
