Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Signs 'Individual Freedom' Bill Prohibiting Critical Race Theory In Schools

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis Signs ‘Individual Freedom’ Bill Prohibiting Critical Race Theory In Schools

Photo courtesy of CNN.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is backing a bill prohibiting private businesses and public schools from teaching Critical Race Theory. The Senate Education Committee approved the Individual Freedom bill on Jan. 18.

The Individual Freedom bill doesn’t directly mention Critical Race Theory. However, the Republican governor attacked

teaching an accurate account of slavery and the lasting effects of “state-sanctioned racism.” DeSantis also said CRT would lead to a “hostile work environment.”

“Individual Freedom; Providing that subjecting any individual, as a condition of employment, membership, certification, licensing, credentialing, or passing an examination, to training, instruction, or any other required activity that espouses, promotes, advances, inculcates, or compels such individual to believe specified concepts constitutes discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin; revising the requirements for required instruction on health education; prohibiting instructional materials reviewers from recommending instructional materials that contain any matter that contradicts certain principles, etc.”

The topics of slavery, racism and discrimination are allowed, but the legislation would prohibit teachers or instructors from using specific curricula.

Democratic State Senator Shevrin Jones is the only Black member of the committee and serves as the vice-chair. Sen. Jones told CNN that the bill seeks to reinvent history and appease white guilt. He also said it was a ban on Black history.

“They are talking about not wanting white people to feel uncomfortable? Let’s talk about being uncomfortable,” said Jones. “My ancestors were uncomfortable when they were stripped away from their children.”

The governor’s press secretary, Christina Pushaw, continued to reframe the rhetoric in the bill, which is designed to masquerade as an anti-discrimination bill, by saying no Floridian should be subjected to discrimination.

“The bill makes clear that no Floridian — student, worker, or anyone else — should be subjected to discriminatory content and rhetoric,” she wrote. “Every Floridian deserves an equal shot at success, regardless of skin color. This means considering each person as an individual with unique attributes, experiences, and aspirations, rather than stereotyping them as a member of this or that identity group. It is frankly disturbing that anyone would find these ideas controversial in the year 2022.”

In other words, white folks shouldn’t be made to feel bad because of white supremacy.