"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." (Edmund Burke)
As a male descendant of African enslaved people, an undeniable Christian, a son, father, grandfather, and a duly consecrated Bishop in the Church of God in Christ assigned to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, I am appalled by the approved standards for teaching Black History in the state of Florida!
"West Africa stretches from modern-day Mauritania to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It encompasses lush rainforests along the equator, savannas on either side of the forest, and much drier land to the north. Until about 600 CE, most Africans living in this area were hunter-gatherers. In the driest areas, herders maintained sheep, goats, cattle, or camels. In the more heavily wooded area near the equator, farmers raised yams, palm products, or plantains. The savanna areas yielded crops including rice, millet, and sorghum." (https://www.khanacademy.org)
To whitewash the history of African enslavement in America as potentially beneficial is asinine, insensitive, insulting, and intellectually dangerous. It is morally unconscionable and racially discriminatory.
As a black man in America, a devout and practicing Christian, and member of the clergy, I cannot and will not tolerate this kind of blatant abuse of authority which chooses to misrepresent the original sin of this nation by suggesting erroneously to children, and especially black children, that over 400 years of enslavement parlays into something beneficial later on!
Africans were skilled, wealthy, educated, practicing faith, builders, hunters, scientists, politicians, traders, farmers, and highly intellectual BEFORE THEY WERE ENSLAVED!!!
I don’t speak for any group, political party, or ignorant ideology. I AM A MAN! I wouldn’t expect any allies of color, gender, faith, or morality to support my position if they agree with this preposterous standard of teaching children that enslavement wasn’t so bad!
God help this nation, and as Scar from The Lion King expressed, “We’re surrounded by idiots.”
When good men do nothing, evil triumphs. Evil, sin, and sinful men must be opposed. God commands those who are good, not just to avoid evil, but actively oppose it.
Christians are not only to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but (also) reprove them." (Ephesians 5:11)