In mid-January, the Republican Governor of Florida Ron de Sandys called for the removal from the state’s high schools of the African American history course recommended by the US College Board, a non-profit association of university institutions that has promoted higher education for high school students for more than a century. The organization, which, among other things, administers university readiness tests for students, offers several advanced courses every year, which are offered in the country’s secondary schools along with the regular educational program, in order to familiarize students with university education.

Black Lives Matter

This year, in the wake of movements such as Black Lives Matter and in the midst of changes in American society, the organization felt it was timely and useful to introduce a course on African American history as part of its program. The course, based on an initial draft submitted in January, was to include chapters on “black feminism”, “interdisciplinarity” and African-American movements in the US, among other topics. But the sharp reaction of the conservative De Sandis, who in his letter to the organization demanded the cancellation of the course, forced college council change the original program plan. The final draft, released a few days ago, removed the chapter on contemporary African American history, which included the Black Lives Matter article, and added a chapter on “black conservatism.” In addition, many of the primary personal testimonies were removed, enriching the course material.

While the organization itself does not acknowledge any political interference in the curriculum change, many participants feel that the change was sudden because the organization, as a non-profit organization, supports such initiatives and cannot afford to lose them. DeSandis was openly critical of the course from the start, calling it “no educational value” and citing state laws regarding how racial issues are taught in public schools. In addition, one of De Sandys’ education commissioners, Commissioner Manny Diaz, called the course “awakened propaganda masquerading as a school lesson.”

The Woke movement, which began almost a decade ago and unites demands against sexism, racism and inequality, has been repeatedly attacked by conservatives who identify it with the American left and see it as a desire to damage the traditions of their country.