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--:-- Georgia Howe: Welcome to Morning Wire. I'm Georgia Howe, and I'm here with our editor-in-chief, John Bickley.
--:-- John Bickley: Thanks for waking up with us, Georgia. It's July 30th, and we're covering the latest controversy surrounding Florida's new social studies curriculum.
--:-- Georgia Howe: That's right, John. Democrat critics, including Vice President Kamala Harris, are speaking out against the curriculum, accusing it of whitewashing history and minimizing the horrors of slavery. But conservatives are pushing back, saying the Vice President is lying and that the curriculum is accurate.
--:-- John Bickley: Let's dive in and find out what's really going on. Our culture reporter, Megan Basham, has been digging into the debate. Megan, thanks for joining us.
--:-- Megan Basham: Thanks for having me, John.
--:-- John Bickley: So, Megan, what's the controversy all about? Can you walk us through it?
--:-- Megan Basham: Sure. The controversy centers around one line in the curriculum that says slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit. The line is part of a larger section on the various duties and trades performed by slaves.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what's the context of that line?
--:-- Megan Basham: The immediate context is to have students examine the various duties and trades performed by slaves, including agricultural work, carpentry, tailoring, and blacksmithing. The line is meant to highlight the skills that slaves developed, which could be beneficial to them once they were free.
--:-- John Bickley: But critics are saying that this line minimizes the horrors of slavery and whitewashes history.
--:-- Megan Basham: That's right. Critics, including Vice President Kamala Harris, are saying that the line is inaccurate and that it's part of a broader effort to distort the truth about slavery.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what about the scholars who developed the curriculum? Do they stand by this line?
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, the scholars who developed the curriculum, including several African-American historians, say that the line is accurate and that it's meant to reflect the complexity of slavery.
--:-- John Bickley: But isn't this just a case of taking a line out of context?
--:-- Megan Basham: That's a fair point, John. The line is just one part of a larger curriculum that does include a lot of information about the horrors of slavery. But critics are saying that this one line is enough to discredit the entire curriculum.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what about the reaction from the White House? Have they weighed in on this controversy?
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, Press Secretary Corinne Jean-Pierre brought up the issue during the press briefing on Monday, saying that the line is "inaccurate, insulting, and hurtful" and that it prevents an honest account of our nation's history.
--:-- John Bickley: And what about the Congressional Black Caucus? Are they getting involved in this controversy?
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, the Congressional Black Caucus is pushing the White House and DOJ to investigate the curriculum, saying that it's part of a broader effort to distort the truth about slavery.
--:-- Georgia Howe: And what about the reaction from parents in Florida? Are they supporting this curriculum?
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, some parents in Florida are supporting the curriculum, saying that it's a more accurate and nuanced portrayal of slavery.
--:-- John Bickley: And what about the Florida Board of Education? Have they responded to this controversy?
--:-- Megan Basham: Yes, the Florida Board of Education has issued a statement saying that they're moving forward with implementing the new history standards, despite the criticism.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Well, Megan, thanks for breaking down this controversy for us.
--:-- Megan Basham: Thanks for having me, Georgia.
--:-- John Bickley: And that's a wrap for today's show. Thanks for waking up with us, and we'll see you tomorrow.
--:-- Georgia Howe: Goodbye, and don't forget to subscribe to Morning Wire for more daily coverage of the latest news and developments.
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