African American History Taught By Freedom School At Sarasota Library

SARASOTA, FL — With recent legislation limiting what can be taught in Florida’s public schools, the Manasota branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History has launched the Freedom School, a free educational program on African American history and 500 years of the Black experience in America.

The course takes place Saturdays, noon to 2 p.m., through April 29 at the Berry J. Johnson Public Library, 2801 Newtown Blvd. Aimed at students in grades 3 through 12 — though younger are welcome, as well — lunch will also be served during the weekly program.

The Freedom School concept, developed by the ASALH’s national council, was inspired by the Civil Rights-era Freedom Summer programs that were developed by the Student Nonviolent Coordination Committee in the 1960s.

“With the Freedom Summer campaigns, large numbers of university kids, white and Black, traveled to the South to participate in the movement and attend these schools and learn our real history,” David Wilkins, a member of the organization’s Manasota chapter, told Patch. “We’re just borrowing from that concept.”

Related Stories:

• College Board Slams FL's Response To AP African American Studies Class
• Embracing Our Differences Art Exhibit Vandalized: Sarasota Police
• FL Student Can't Say 'Gay' In Grad Speech, Discusses His Curls Instead
• After Parents Read Rape Scenes At Board Meeting Schools Remove Books
• Banned Books Week: What Titles Have Been Removed From Some FL Schools?

Over the past two years, legislation has affected what can and can’t be taught in the classroom in Florida. The Stop WOKE Act prohibits certain teachings on race and diversity, while the so-called Don’t Say Gay Bill limits discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity.

In recent weeks, Gov. Ron DeSantis and his administration have taken aim at the College Board’s new Advanced Placement African American Studies course. The state has banned the course from Florida schools, with officials claiming that it violates state law and questioning its historical accuracy.

This make’s the Freedom School’s focus on African American history more important than ever, Wilkins said. “I think it’s always important, but now the timing makes it imperative. I think because the governor has taken up this fight and the legislature is obviously supporting him in the passing of legislation, it highlights, for us, the disregard of this important history, frankly.”

State law actually calls for the teaching of African and African American history, he added. “Florida has a relatively long history of wanting to ensure their children learn the full story of our history and it’s only with this governor and his administration that this confusion has been created.”

Teachers and school administrators across the state are concerned by this new legislation and worry that if they teach history as they have in the pass, their jobs could be in jeopardy, Wilkins said. “It certainly gives them pause that they could be fired or even prosecuted. So, we’re doing our part.”

The course highlights a range of Black people and places, including Frederick Douglass, Mansa Musa, Marian Anderson, Toussaint Louverture, Langston Hughes, Nelson Mandela, President Barack Obama, Kwame Nkrumah, LeBron James, ancient Mali, ancient Songhai, ancient Kush, the Gold Coast and Haiti, the organization said in a news release.

“I think our kids need to know about this history,” Wilkins said. “Not just African American kids. I think all kids – white kids, Asian kids, Latino kids – need to know all aspects of American history. We don’t believe that’s indoctrination; we believe it’s essential information.”