Sen. Tim Scott joins fray over Florida’s Black historical past requirements, says no ‘silver lining’ to slavery

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina entered the spat over Florida’s academic requirements for Black historical past, saying “there is no silver lining” in slavery in a rebuke of 2024 presidential opponent Ron DeSantis.

Mr. DeSantis, the Republican governor of Florida, has defended up to date curricula that describe how slaves “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

His workplace pointed to different educational requirements and encyclopedia entries which have related content material, although the requirements spawned criticism from the Biden White House and Mr. DeSantis’ 2024 foes.

“What slavery was really about [was] separating families, about mutilating humans and even raping their wives,” mentioned Mr. Scott, the one Black Republican within the Senate, after a city corridor in Iowa. “It was just devastating. So, I would hope that every person in our country — and certainly running for president — would appreciate that.”

Mr. DeSantis says a few of his GOP critics are falling for White House speaking factors. He’s tried to distance himself from the curricula, although additionally defined why the replace was included.

“I wasn’t involved in it,” he informed reporters final week. “I think that they’re probably going to show — some of the folks that eventually parlayed, you know, being a blacksmith into doing things later in life.”

Mr. Scott, who joined the 2024 GOP main for president in late spring, recommended the combat over the requirements will come up once more throughout the race.