Vice President Kamala Harris faced accusations of spreading a “sick” falsehood about Florida’s Black history curriculum during her visit to the Ritz Theatre and Museum in Jacksonville. She claimed that Florida was replacing “history with lies” in its approval of new state-wide curriculum and suggested that middle school students would be taught that enslaved people benefited from slavery.
Critics were quick to dispute Harris’s claims, arguing that she misrepresented the new curriculum standards approved by Florida’s Education Department. Kali Fontanilla, founder of the Exodus Institute and a former California teacher, pointed out that the curriculum contained extensive standards on teaching Black history, and Harris’s statement was taken out of context. The new social studies curriculum simply acknowledges that enslaved individuals developed skills that could be applied for their personal benefit, not that slavery itself was beneficial.
CNN conservative political commentator Scott Jennings also criticized Harris’s claims, calling them “fabricated” and based on misinformation. He emphasized that scholars and analyses of the standards have found no basis for her accusations.
Rebecca Nathanson, a chapter chair for Moms for Liberty, accused Harris of peddling in cynical lies to stoke anger. She defended Florida’s educational standards, highlighting recent legislation that expanded the teaching of African-American history and the horrors of slavery.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to Harris’s claims on Twitter, accusing Democrats of lying about Florida’s educational standards and pushing their own agenda of indoctrinating students with divisive topics.
The controversy surrounding Harris’s remarks highlights the importance of accurate and nuanced discussions about historical subjects and the need to avoid misrepresentation for political gains.