Responding to widespread criticism of its appalling rewriting of history to falsely and disgustingly claim that slaves gained “personal benefit” from slavery, Ron DeSantis’s FL Department of [Mis]Education doubled down on its racism by issuing a statement that was not only puke-inducing but also full of lies.
The FLDOE;s mind-boggling statement listed the names of 16 historic figures that it claimed were slaves who “developed highly specialized trades during slavery from which they benefited. This if factual and well documented.” Nevermind that there is no way to put a positive spin on slavery, even if this statement were true, but turns out that it is not, um, factual, as the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The Times points out that it is well documented that “nearly half the figures highlighted by the state were never enslaved. Others, who did spend time in slavery, did not gain their skills from their servitude.”
“They just threw out a bunch of names to make it seem like something good came of (slavery),” said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association teachers union. “The reality of it is, the facts don’t back up what they are saying.”
For example:
- FLDOE claimed that Lewis Latimer was a blacksmith born into slavery in 1848 and freed in 1852. But a Lewis Latimer House Museum states that Latimer was was born to two self-liberated formerly enslaved parents and worked as an inventor.
- James Forten was described by the FLDOE as shoemaker born into slavery in 1766 who escaped in 1784, but the Museum of the American Revolution describes Forten as a Black entrepreneur born to free parents.
Not only were they not slaves, [Georgetown University postdoctoral fellow Joshua Stein] wrote on Twitter; their provided professions also were incorrect. “So ... you’re wrong on both halves.”
Other examples:
- The department listed Henry Blair as a slave who became a blacksmith and an inventor. Biography.com and several other sites state there is no information indicating that Blair was enslaved. He invented a corn planter and a cotton planter, becoming the second Black person to earn a U.S. patent.
- The department referred to Paul Cuffe as a shoemaker and ship owner born into slavery and escaped to freedom in 1781. According to PaulCuffe.org, operated by the Westport Historical Society, Cuffe was born in 1759 to an emancipated slave. Having worked on whaling boats starting at age 14, he established a shipping business in Massachusetts.
- The statement mentioned John Chavis as an fisherman born into slavery, who later was known for his work in teaching. The North Carolina Museum of History states that Chavis was born into a free Black family in North Carolina, fought in the Revolutionary War and became an educator.
DeSantis’s Department of [Mis]Education also included Booker T. Washington on its bogus list, claiming that Washington’s time in slavery helped him gain skills as a “teacher.” But the Times points out that although Washington was enslaved he did not gain his skills until after being freed at age 9. He worked in mines and as a houseboy before entering school, according to Tuskegee University, which he founded in 1881.
This sad, sad story is aptly summed up by Genesis Robinson, political director for Equal Ground Florida:
“They don’t care about an accurate accounting of Black history,” Robinson said.
Indeed they do not.