Miami Black leaders apologize after member called DeSantis ‘racist’

MIAMI (FLV) – The Miami-Dade Black Affairs Advisory Board chair apologized to Gov. Ron DeSantis after one of its members called him “racist.”

Chair Pierre Rutledge reportedly issued the apology after a member said “our governor is racist” at a meeting following the state’s rejection of an African American History advanced placement course.

“We take it to heart when someone uses the term racist,” Rutledge said. “Words matter. And so as chair, I must start by saying we want to pull that back. There’s nothing wrong with saying ‘we’re sorry.’ That’s not what we intended to say or be depicted by anyone. And that’s not the feeling of this board.”

College Board strips down AP African American Studies course after DeSantis’ rejection

The DeSantis administration rejected the AP course, citing Critical Race Theory and a violation of the state’s “Stop WOKE Act.” The College Board made significant changes to the course and resubmitted it to the Florida Department of Education Feb. 1. The governor’s office said the Florida Department of Education is reviewing the new framework.

Florida’s Voice compared the newly submitted syllabus to the rejected syllabus. 

The teaching about the origins and impacts of the Black Lives Matter movement will not be a required part of the course framework that is formally adopted by states that defines the exam. In the original syllabus, Black Lives Matter was a required topic.

The development and ideology of Black conservatism is now listed as an optional topic that can be taught for illustrative purposes. Black conservatism was not listed in the original syllabus.

The newly outlined course will not teach Black Queer Studies, which was originally listed out as a course topic. Reparations is also no longer a required part of the course framework, but is considered an optional topic. Previously, “the case for reparations” was slated to be taught as a requirement.