Communities In Florida Take a Stand on Censorship

By Jane Laurey

In the midst of ever-increasing book bans in Florida and the rejection of AP African American studies, churches and communities groups have been making an effort to educate the community on Black history.

These efforts were ushered in when Governor Ron DeSantis refused to allow AP African American Studies to be taught in Florida state schools. Additionally, AP Psychology has been effectively banned in the state, as the class is only permitted to be taught with no discussion of gender identity or sexuality, which have been integral parts of the curriculum since its launch. Moreover, book bans in Florida have surged in recent years, with the state being responsible for more than 40 percent of book bans in the United States.

“I’m seeing it even with my own daughter who’s 17, a high school senior,” said Sharon D. Wright, a political science professor at the University of Florida. “She and some of her friends have talked about maybe just … reading on their own and just meeting here at her house or maybe her going to her friend’s house and just reading different books and talking about different books.” 

DeSantis decided to bar AP African American Studies from state schools due to objections in his administration on aspects of the curriculum. His administration specifically opposed topics such as intersectionality, the Black Lives Matter movement, the reparations movement, Black feminist literary thought, and Black Queer Studies.

“What’s one of the lessons about? Queer theory. Now who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory?” Said Desantis. “That is somebody pushing an agenda on our kids…that’s the wrong side of the line for Florida standards.”

This controversial decision caused extreme levels of pushback, including from the nonprofit Faith in Florida (FIF), which has begun to lead the effort to educate the community on Black history. FIF launched a toolkit in late July, which includes videos, guides, and reading materials to assist community groups, faith leaders, and anyone else educating about Black history.

“House Bill 7 passed where the teaching of African American History from our public school systems or universities was being jeopardized and threatened in a way of it not being taught in a truthful manner, but this watered-down version … that was just crazy,” said Rhonda Thomas, pastor and executive director of FIF.

The toolkit has had immense reach, as 290 congregations in Florida have registered for toolkit access. Aside from places of worship, the toolkit has been accessed by individuals who believe in the importance of uncensored education on Black history, as well as groups outside of Florida.

“Once this toolkit went out, we also had churches that are led by white faith leaders and Muslims register to teach Black History,” Thomas said. “What stands out is that these states are just as concerned, because many times they know that whatever takes place in Florida, eventually it’s going to hit our states as well.” 

The deputy legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Katie Blankenship, says that the ACLU recognizes the instrumental role that community efforts and connections play in fighting censorship, and the ACLU is determined to support these efforts, through “integrated advocacy.” The ACLU’s state coalition, Free to be Florida, includes over 25 counties that aim to fight against censorship in Florida, with the help of grassroots organizations.

“[Integrated advocacy] just means bringing in experts from all of our departments and fields of expertise to really look at this issue holistically,” Blankenship said. “How do we not only fight it in the courts, but how do we really support the groundswell of local action? How do we help support statewide strategy and advocacy?”