A.G. Gancarski
Sen. Shevrin Jones slammed Gov. Ron DeSantis‘ proposed “Stop W.O.K.E. Act” Thursday in front of a national audience saying the Governor isn’t attempting to block the teaching of critical race theory but Black history itself.
DeSantis says the act is meant to crack down on “pernicious” critical race theory concepts in educational and workplace settings.
Jones, a Democrat from Hollywood, told Alisyn Camerota, co-host of CNN’s morning show, “New Day,” “I want the Republicans to go ahead and show their hand. This is not about CRT. This is not about the 1619 Project. Let’s be clear: This is them wanting to stop teaching Black History. Because when you talk about CRT, when you talk about the 1619 Project, that’s exactly what this is.”
“It’s talking about racist policies that were created years ago during even the Jim Crow era that have put us in the position we are in now,” Jones said. “Teaching children history, teaching them Black history, which in my mind is American history, and then saying you don’t want your child to learn it, all it does is put us into a predicament where you have children who feel as if it is OK to use racial slurs inside our schools, when children feel it is OK to do the things to make it seem as if they are not a part of what we call America.”
“It’s an ugly past,” Jones added, “but there’s a truth to everything that’s happened in the past in the United States of America.”
When rolling out the legislative proposal Wednesday, DeSantis hopscotched through historical references. Ahead of announcing the proposal, DeSantis invoked Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
“You think about what MLK stood for. He said he didn’t want people judged on the color of their skin, but on the content of their character,” DeSantis said. “You listen to some of these people nowadays, they don’t talk about that.”
The quip earned DeSantis a mention from Trevor Noah, the host of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show.”
“Might as well quote MLK now before it’s banned in the state of Florida,” Noah tweeted with a video of DeSantis announcing his Stop W.O.K.E. Act.
Might as well quote MLK now before it's banned in the state of Florida https://t.co/vZ37B5Vc05
— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) December 15, 2021
The Governor, in his remarks, did not explain who “some of these people were,” but soon thereafter focused heavily on decrying the “cultural Marxism” at the heart of critical race theory.
“I think what you see now with the rise of this woke ideology is an attempt to really delegitimize our history and our institutions,” DeSantis said, arguing such teachings are designed to “tear at the fabric of our society and our culture and things that really we’ve taken for granted.”
The Governor used similarly loaded language in a fundraising email Wednesday.
“From schools to corporations, Democrats are working to indoctrinate our nation’s youth with hatred — hatred towards one another and towards America. If they’re
DeSantis has invested a lot of political capital in critical race theory in recent months. The Governor’s Board of Education banned it in classroom instruction this summer, and DeSantis has vowed to get involved in school board races next year.
14 comments
Alex
December 16, 2021 at 5:22 pm
DeRacist?
He thinks white people are more discriminated against than any other group.
Yes, he’s that frickin crazy, along with his oh so persecuted willfully ignorant hater white fan base.
Gail
December 16, 2021 at 9:17 pm
Ever hear of affirmative action? one of many anti white policies from college admissions to housing. You need education or too much propaganda in school..
Alex
December 16, 2021 at 9:36 pm
I’ve heard many poor victimized white republicans claim that.
It doesn’t change the fact blacks in particular still get the shit end of the stick today, and it’s wrong, but white republicans won’t admit to the facts/blame blacks to not have to admit it’s real.
Gail
December 16, 2021 at 9:21 pm
Shevrin what month is white history month? there isn’t one? by your standards that is blatant racism and discrimination. When was the last time a black monument was defaced and removed?
Quit your whining hypocrite.
Alex
December 16, 2021 at 9:39 pm
No one is stopping Republicans from declaring white history month.
Don’t lie little white victim.
ScienceBLVR
December 17, 2021 at 6:44 am
Gail, Every month is White History month.. and while we’re at it, note the “his” in that word- women tend to get the shit end of the stick, about their accomplishments, also When a white cop can snuff the life out of a black man in broad daylight, while being filmed by multiple witnesses and thinks he will get away with it? That’s some systemic racism alright. And let teachers teach factual history- not some “white” washed version of it. It’s the Scopes trial all over again, but now it’s that right wing made up boogie man, CRT, instead of evolution, but the same players and concepts.
Vivian
December 17, 2021 at 7:49 am
Every month is white history month go without saying
tjb
December 17, 2021 at 9:40 am
Gail, black monuments were not defaced because the white man preferred hanging, burning, and the shooting of people of color.
Jesse
December 16, 2021 at 9:28 pm
Black history is an integral part of American History.
It would be silly to teach the latter without the former.
tom palmer
December 16, 2021 at 10:05 pm
The downtrodden White Caucus in the Florida Legislature may try to set things right and keep Gov. DeSantis happy. His pandering is increasingly inviting parody.
Charlotte Greenbarg
December 17, 2021 at 7:38 am
The Democrats throw excrement against the wall in their desperate attempts to deflect from the fact that they have lost any semblance of credibility.
Concern Citizen
December 21, 2021 at 1:47 pm
What excrement is being thrown to the wall by Shevrin Jones?
CRT is an issue created by the Republicans to excite their base.. CRT is not designed to arouse hate or widen the division between people. Charlotte, your comment only arouse hate and division. Are you worst then the alleged “sins” of CRT?
Ocean Joe
December 17, 2021 at 4:12 pm
No, that’s what your Jan 6 cohorts did to the walls of the capitol.
Impeach Biden
December 17, 2021 at 9:37 pm
You don’t believe in walls right?
Comments are closed.