Despite a “travel advisory” warning LGBTQ+ community members about alleged safety risks in Florida, there were reports that an LGBTQ+ group still planned to hold its gathering in the state. Notably, many who pledged to boycott Florida, such as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, ended up visiting the state.
NBC BLK now reports that the oldest historically black fraternity in America has decided to move its convention out of Florida in response to what they perceive as racially prejudiced policies enacted by Gov. Ron DeSantis. (As a side note, it’s somewhat amusing to note NBC News’ distinct categories like NBC BLK and NBC OUT.)
The Associated Press reports:
The decision comes after the NAACP and other civil rights organizations this spring issued a travel advisory for Florida, warning that recently passed laws and policies are openly hostile to African Americans, people of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Willis Lonzer, the fraternity’s general president, said in statement on Wednesday that the decision was motivated in part by Florida’s new education standards that require teachers to instruct middle school students that slaves developed skills that “could be applied for their personal benefit.”
Contrary to popular belief, DeSantis did not author the curriculum in question; it was crafted by a descendant of slaves. It’s worth noting that the AP African American history course that received widespread support made similar points. The course highlighted how some slaves acquired trades they could utilize post-emancipation, which shouldn’t be a controversial assertion.
Therefore, the controversy seems to revolve around the interpretation of a single line about some slaves learning trades under the label of “harmful, racist, and insensitive” policies. However, this particular assertion appears to be the only contentious point cited in the story.