The chair of the Miami-Dade Black Affairs Advisory Board issued an apology to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after one of its members said at a Wednesday meeting, \u201cOur governor is racist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In a statement issued Friday on behalf of his board, Pierre Rutledge said, \u201cWe take it to heart when someone uses the term racist.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWords matter,\u201d Rutledge wrote, according to Fox News<\/a>. \u201cAnd so as chair, I must start by saying we want to pull that back. There\u2019s nothing wrong with saying \u2018we\u2019re sorry.\u2019 That\u2019s not what we intended to say or be depicted by anyone. And that\u2019s not the feeling of this board.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tensions were clearly high at the Wednesday meeting as the group discussed DeSantis\u2019s rejection of a woke African-American history advanced placement course that pushed Critical Race and Queer theories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As\u00a0BizPac Review<\/a>\u00a0previously reported, in December, DeSantis introduced the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (WOKE) Act aimed at eradicating Critical Race Theory (CRT) from Florida\u2019s schools and businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gov. DeSantis introduces \u2018Stop WOKE Act\u2019 targeting CRT training by schools, corporate America https:\/\/t.co\/vJ34CWq7jO<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) December 16, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn Florida, we are taking a stand against the state-sanctioned racism that is critical race theory,\u201d DeSantis said at the time of the legislation. \u201cWe won\u2019t allow Florida tax dollars to be spent teaching kids to hate our country or to hate each other. We also have a responsibility to ensure that parents have the means to vindicate their rights when it comes to enforcing state standards. Finally, we must protect Florida workers against the hostile work environment that is created when large corporations force their employees to endure CRT-inspired \u2018training\u2019 and indoctrination.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n In January, the governor came under disingenuous fire from the White House after the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) rejected<\/a> an advanced placement African American course that, according to the FDOE Office of Articulation, is \u201cinexplicably contrary to Florida law and significantly lacks educational value.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n pic.twitter.com\/skAmwzjfTP<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Willie Brown & Kamala\u2019s love child (@Jo42720287) February 6, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cIn the future,\u201d the office said, \u201cshould College Board be willing to come back to the table with lawful, historically accurate content, FDOE will always be willing to reopen the discussion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis course on Black history, what\u2019s one of the lessons about? Queer theory,\u201d DeSantis told an inquisitive reporter. \u201cNow, who would say that an important part of Black history is queer theory? That is somebody pushing an agenda.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zGgdR04iCME At one of her briefings, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre looked into her magic book and claimed DeSantis wants to \u201cblock\u201d advanced high school students from studying African American history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt is incomprehensible that \u2014 to see that this is what this ban, or this \u2018block\u2019 to be more specific, that DeSantis has put forward,\u201d Jean-Pierre said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you think about the study of Black Americans, that is what he wants to block,\u201d she continued. \u201cAnd again, these types of actions aren\u2019t new, they are not new from what we\u2019re seeing, especially from Florida, sadly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also not new is Jean-Pierre\u2019s capacity for getting things wrong, as DeSantis\u2019s press secretary Bryan Griffin was quick to point out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n .@PressSec<\/a> is demonstrably incorrect. Again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The study of African American history is not only permitted in FL but required by law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In fact, the teaching of African American History has been expanded in Florida since @GovRonDeSantis<\/a> took office. https:\/\/t.co\/eVWRB2f7dY<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Bryan Griffin (@BryanDGriffin) January 20, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n On Twitter, Rutledge\u2019s apology is being received by many as a welcomed breath of fresh air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTHANK YOU for you statements on Gov DeSantis,\u201d one user tweeted to the Black leader. \u201cOur nation needs more of your rationality, kindness, and understanding. Casual accusations of racism are destructive & divisive. We all have different views we should share and debate peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n THANK YOU for you statements on Gov DeSantis. Our nation needs more of your rationality, kindness, and understanding. Casual accusations of racism are destructive & divisive. We all have different views we should share and debate peacefully<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 jcwtx (@jcwtxII) February 6, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n @pierre_rutledge<\/a> Thank you! I\u2019ve often thought that apologizing strengthens a person, and it makes someone think before they say rough things. Have a great week!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Art Pepper (@ArtPepper11) February 6, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n I respect you for being a person of character in apologizing. All people error, not all apologize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 CWebb (@wilbursbarn) February 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n
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