This week, Representative Christopher Benjamin’s (D-Miami Gardens) bill fighting for African American studies in the great state of Florida was signed into law. HB 551 was signed by Governor DeSantis and set to take effect on July 1, 2023. This bipartisan legislation that was prime co-sponsored by Chair Randy Fine (R- Palm Bay), and sponsored by Senator Corey Simon (R- Tallahassee) in the Senate, made a clear delineation that all the parties may differ in their idea of historical theory can be no disagreement that African American history is a part of the fabric of the country and this state, and that is a mandatory part of the scholastic requirements here in Florida.
Representative Benjamin stated, “It was important to me and my constituents that this legislation was clear on the real fact that ALL of our history, the good the bad and the ugly would be taught to our children. Especially, the parts of our history that reflect the plight and the victories of the African Americans that helped build this great country. Ensuring that we provide guidance to our educators that we want them to continue to enrich our children’s learning experience with good, honest and objective view points on our history, because this is how we learn, how we grow and most importantly how we continue to move forward as a people, a community and as the Great State of Florida.”
