#TalkRadio – July 25 – Tell The Truth, Florida

SPEAKERS:

State Senator Geraldine Thompson: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Florida State Senator; attended Miami-Dade Community College until she received a scholarship to attend the University of Miami shortly after the school ended racial segregation where she graduated with her bachelor’s degree with honors in journalism and business education; Master of Science in Communications, Florida State University; Former Assistant to the President of Valencia

Community College for 24 years; served in the House of Representatives from 2006-2012 & 2018; filed lawsuit against the Governor for appointing a Black Woman to the Florida Supreme Court who didn’t meet the minimum qualifications. It resulted in the appointment being stricken by the Florida Supreme Court.

As a result of redistricting, Senator Thompson in back in the Florida Senate. She remains vocal on the policies of the Governor and the majority held Florida legislature

State Senator Shevrin Jones, PhD.: 12:00 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Florida State Senator; graduate of Florida A & M University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biochemistry and molecular biology and PhD in Educational Leadership; Master of Education, Florida Atlantic University; Since 2012, member of the House of Representatives in the Florida Legislature. When redistricting occurred after the 2020 census and being term limited from his position, he ran for the State Senator to replace a senator who was being term limited and won. In 2016, he was temporarily paralyzed after an accident at the gym. After emergency surgery, follow-up procedure, and rigorous physical therapy, he was able to walk again after seven weeks with assistance of a cane. Coming out in 2016, Senator Jones became the first gay person of any race or gender elected to the Florida Senate. While seeking election in 2020, Jones and his campaign became the victims off homophobic robo-texts and calls. 

Colin Mitchell: 12:30 PM – 12:57 PM ET
Current Florida State Youth and College President 

Francesca Mitchell: 12:30 PM – 12:57 PM Eastern Time
National NAACP Region 5 Youth Board Member

INTRODUCTION:

The Igniting Change Radio Show on Tuesday, July 25th, 2023, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Eastern Time, entitled, “Tell The Truth, Florida: Confronting Florida’s New Whitewashed ‘Black History’ Teaching Standards”, will be live with Radio Show Co-Hosts and Transformative Justice Coalition (TJC) Co-Leaders Attorneys Barbara Arnwine, Esq. and Daryl Jones, Esq. and guests State Senator Geraldine Thompson, State Senator Shevrin Jones, PhD., Francesca Mitchell, and Colin Mitchell as they discuss Florida’s new standards for teaching Black History.   

“The Florida Board of Education approved a new set of standards for how Black history should be taught in the state’s public schools, sparking criticism from education and civil rights advocates who said students should be allowed to learn the ‘full truth’ of American history. 

It is the latest development in the state’s ongoing debate over African American history, including the education department’s rejection of a preliminary pilot version of an Advanced Placement African American Studies course for high school students, which it claimed lacked educational value. 

The new standards come after the state passed new legislation under Gov. Ron DeSantis that bars instruction in schools that suggests anyone is privileged or oppressed based on their race or skin color…

The new standards require instruction for middle school students to include ‘how slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit,’ a document listing the standards and posted in the Florida Department of Education website said. 

When high school students learn about events such as the 1920 Ocoee massacre, the new rules require that instruction include “acts of violence perpetrated against and by African Americans.’ The massacre is considered the deadliest Election Day violence in US history and, according to several histories of the incident, it started when Moses Norman, a prominent Black landowner in the Ocoee, Florida, community, attempted to cast his ballot and was turned away by White poll workers. Similar standards are noted for lessons about other massacres, including the Atlanta race massacre, the Tulsa race massacre and the Rosewood race massacre.

‘Our children deserve nothing less than truth, justice, and the equity our ancestors shed blood, sweat, and tears for,’ Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said in a statement condemning the new standards. ‘It is imperative that we understand that the horrors of slavery and Jim Crow were a violation of human rights and represent the darkest period in American history.’

The Florida Education Association, a statewide teachers union, called the new standards a disservice to students and ‘a big step backward for a state that has required teaching African American history since 1994.’” (“Florida Board of Education approves new Black history standards that critics call ‘a big step backward’”, by Nicole Chavez, CNN, Updated 5:22 PM EDT, Thu July 20, 2023) 

Barbara Arnwine, president, and founder of TJC, said “It is reprehensible to teach anyone that enslaved Africans benefited from slavery by gaining skills. This defies the historic fact that Africans were targeted for kidnapping and enslavement because of their high levels of skills as teachers, agriculturists, fishermen, horsemen, tailors, seamstresses, warriors, iron workers, wood carvers, medicine healers, pharmacists, herbologists/herbalists, chefs, artists, midwives, and so many other skills that were critically needed to build the economic power of the United States. Tellingly, there’s no mention of teaching how the unpaid labor and brutally enforced regime of slavery benefited the White slave owners and all of their employees and descendants for generations, including present day. Besides planting and harvesting, there were numerous other types of labor required on plantations and farms. Enslaved people had to clear new land, dig ditches, cut, and haul wood, slaughter livestock, and make repairs to buildings and tools. In many instances, they worked as mechanics, blacksmiths, drivers, carpenters, and in other skilled trades brought from their homeland not learned in captivity.”

These standards literally spit on the graves of those murdered during the Ocoee White-led race Massacre instigated to stop Black people from exercising their constitutional right to vote. To say that any actions Black people took to defend themselves and save their lives from this violent White mob is the equivalent of blaming a rape victim for forcibly resisting rape. A month ago, TJC and partners held the 15-city Stay Woke, Florida! Rolling Protest which inspired and supported tens of thousands of Floridians to resist the ugly racist policies already burdening the state. TJC will join again with Floridians to resist the DeSantis Administration’s imposition of White Supremacist views, brainwashing, and indoctrination. TJC calls for the immediate elimination of these disgusting and erroneous teaching standards. Specifically, TJC calls for organizations and people from all races to join together in supporting freedom schools and supplemental alternative teaching opportunities to promote the truth about the vicious, ugly, exploitative, and evil nature of American Slavery and American race massacres. The only way America can ever achieve reparatory justice is by first teaching the truth. Truly, the truth shall set us free!

TJC Weekly Announcement:

• The Black Farmer’s Fund— More info: https://thegrio.com/2023/07/07/black-farmers-usda-discrimination-financial-assistance-program/ 

This show will discuss Black farmers and the Black farmers fund, from the Discrimination Financial Assistance Program which is being funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The Inflation Reduction Act contains an assistance fund for farmers who were discriminated against. This fund has $2.2b to cover 75 million applicants and covers anyone who can provide proof that they were discriminated against by the federal government. You can only apply up to October through the 40 page application which started on July 7th. How do we best outreach to all of these farmers, particularly, Black farmers who are eligible? 

QUESTIONS:

FIRST SEGMENT: 

• Please tell our national audience of the background of the development of the Black History Teaching Standards.
• In your opinion, what went awry with the Black History Teaching Standards? 

SECOND SEGMENT:

• The Governor has been defending these standards. What are some of the actions that Forida legislators are considering in response to this tragedy?
• What has been the impact of Vice President Harris’ unusual appearance in the state of Florida to denounce these standards?
• At yesterday’s Press Conference led by Rev. Holmes and several other religious leaders, in which Barbara participated, there was a 7–point plan announced that included the creation of Freedom Schools. Do you support this plan?
• What should Black parents do immediately in response to this?

THIRD SEGMENT:

• [Reading of TJC’s Statement regarding the Black History Standards]
• Hi Colin and Francesca, thank you for joining us. We want to continue our discussion about the Florida Black Teaching Standards. You were in Florida as Freedom Riders and with the NAACP and attended Vice President Harris’ speech. What was that like?
• As recent former Florida students, how do you think this curriculum will affect the psychological health of the students?
• TJC wants to take a moment now to discuss the Black Farmers Fund, what it is, who is eligible, and how people can apply or educate others.

FOURTH SEGMENT:

• New reports say that the Florida requests for mail in ballots has decreased significantly. Others complain that the new third party voter registration restrictions are taking a toll on voter registration. What are some of your ideas on how we best tackle these problems particularly for youth voters?
• Barbara, Daryl, and guests will discuss major developments in the news, including the upcoming 58th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act National Broadcast on August 5th, live from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Final Questions to guests:

• What is the major work that you’re pursuing right now?
• What do you think is the most important grassroots organizing that you think needs to happen in order to ensure strong voter protection and engagement in November 2023 and 2024?
• What are your final thoughts to our listeners?
• Thank you for all of your hard work. How do our listeners get in contact with you?
• [Questions for USDA about the Black Farmers’ Fund]
• On Friday, July 7th, the USDA announced this $2.2 billion fund for Black Farmers. What is this fund?
• Let’s talk about some specifics of this fund. Who is eligible?
• Let’s discuss who can apply and how can they apply to this new fund?
• How do we best outreach to all of these farmers, particularly Black farmers, who are eligible?
• How can our diverse audience of racial justice activists from around the country, and many of our audience has family members who are farmers. What can our listeners do to help right now to outreach to the farmers and help them?