New Florida curriculum says slavery had “personal benefits” for slaves

From the tabloid article
While the goals for public middle school teachingsinclude the “history and evolution of slave codes,” a proposed lesson also asks instructors to show students “how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

The headline doesn’t indicate whether this proposed lesson made it in to the curriculum and takes ‘personal benefit’ out of context IMO.

 

This is the exact problem I am highlighting. You want to try and spin it into inspirational stories. But it's not that. It was a horrific system of oppression that led to a new horrific system of oppression that ensnared many formerly enslaved persons and the generations who followed. The effects of those systems are still felt today. This is all about trying to rewrite history to avoid having to acknowledge what has led to the systemic racism still in place today.

I highly recommend you watch this documentary:
Slavery by Another Name | PBS

We can be honest about our history without teaching children that you can't overcome bad circumstances in life. You can teach about Booker T. Washington and also teach about the many formerly enslaved persons who got trapped in racist, exploitative systems that deprived them and their descendants of opportunity and equality.

 

So now you are telling me when I'm being serious rather than sarcastic? What else do you know professor? I responded seriously, and then I made a joke, jesus. If you took "they" to mean you, well ... (tempted to make a pronoun joke now)

 

It's written directly into the FL DOE standards, dude. Here is a screenshot I took:

 

You are trying to peddle the lie that Blacks have been put in circumstances that they cannot possibly overcome without some White liberal savior. We know that's a lie because of stories like Douglass.

Aside from being untrue, that is unbelievably damaging to the Black community because it strips them of their agency. It gives them a finger to point whenever anything bad happens to them and it absolutely demoralizes them.

You need little wins to motivate people. Progress happens over time, and if all you're ever focusing on is the desired end-result, you're going to feel hopeless because it just dismisses all of the progress you've made to this point.

 

This seems paternalistic too TBH, if you are deciding what other people need to learn without their input that seems like a foregone conclusion

 

If only slaves had just tried harder, they could have become Frederick Douglass. We shouldn't be honest about our history. Instead, we should pretend slavery taught them useful skills that set them up for success after emancipation. You are delusional.

And the saddest part is that you ineptly try to paint lying about our history as somehow beneficial for "the Black community." Black people don't need you to lie to them about their history. Be honest, be accountable, and be interested in fighting for genuine equality.

 

Mandatory reading Edited to add better tweet



The Half Has Never Been Told

 

Now that’s a reliable source!

 

What does it explain? You sporting purple hair and a flat cap?

 

Frederick Douglass was an achievable standard for some was he not? The man existed, it's not like he was a fictional character.

You still haven't answered my questions regarding the skills. Should take you less than a minute, yet you don't do it.

It's only beneficial in the sense Blacks today are likely better off for being American than they would've been had they remained enslaved in Africa.

I'm trying to have a good discussion with you, but I can't do it if you won't answer any of my questions and are just going to keep mischaracterizing my points.

 

Frederick Douglass escaped slavery and became a famous and successful abolitionist. Clearly, the other enslaved persons could have done the same. Therefore, their circumstances in life were due to their own failures. 715 logic.

 

Turns out no but in general I’m distrustful of tabloids.
Makes me think of The National Enquirer and such.

 

Of course, context is what I'm searching for. It's an evil institution, no matter who is at the helm.

 

Gator_lawyer logic: Black people have been placed in an absolutely hopeless situation ever since they came to America via the slave trade. The only way to get them out of it in 2023 is to have empathetic White people educate them and to give them free bonus points when they apply for a job or college admissions, because they could never compete in a meritocracy.

 

Chris Rufo is sadly winning in his War on Hate and Whitewashing of history.

 

Whoever Etan Thomas is, he needs to read some more history.

 

Wow. So you’ve bought into that load of BS.
Systemic racism is not real. Just stop it.

 

There was migration and slavery to Europe and England. The empire abolished slavery in 1833.