Host of “CBS Mornings” Gayle King defended the use of the term “wokeism” and argued that it represented “truthism” rather than a radical left-wing philosophy. King made these remarks in response to a piece that was about Florida canceling a contentious Advanced Placement (AP) course in African American history that was influenced by Critical Race Theory (CRT). She emphasized that the substance of the course is not about propagating hatred or woke beliefs but rather about the truth and having an awareness of history.
King voiced her concern that the term “wokeism” has been weaponized to undermine the legitimacy of these classes and distort their subject matter. She advised that people should take the time to comprehend what is being taught in these courses, emphasizing that it is not about inciting hatred against any group, and she emphasized that it is necessary for people to take the time to grasp what is being taught in these.
The disputed program presented the decision made by the state of Florida to prohibit the Advanced Placement course as being unwarranted. King and journalist Lisa Ling criticized the action as an assault on progressive educational ideas. The Florida Department of Education had made a request to the College Board to change the content of the course, particularly in regard to contentious issues such as “Black Lives Matter” and “the queer experience.”
Overall, King and Ling stated that these classes should be offered because they strive to convey a nuanced and humanized view on history rather than propagate contentious ideas. In support of this position, King and Ling contended for the significance of these classes. The conversation was a reflection of the continuous debate that exists around education and the inclusion of certain topics, such as CRT, in the curriculum.