By: Jasmine Williams

According to ‘Rolling Stone,’ the NAACP had issued a travel advisory warning Black Americans who were thinking about going to Florida. The NAACP has said, “[Florida is] openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.” This is surprising because of how many people actually would or would have gone to Florida.

About 34.6 million domestic people went to Florida from January 1st to March 31st for vacation. The NAACP had stated, “Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

Ron DeSantis, the Florida Republican governor, is against diversity and inclusion. In 2022, he signed a bill that executed a ban on race topics being taught in schools. AP African American studies are inaccessible to students because he thinks it’s a political agenda. DeSantis said, “[T]he country is rotten and that our institutions are illegitimate.”

DeSantis had tried to cover up the truth of discrimination of Black Americans now and in the past. DeSantis neglects Black Americans struggles and their history, showing how inconsiderate he is about Black people. Since they would ban AP African American studies, others would not be able to learn about the history behind African Americans and their struggles and be able to help them.

The president and CEO of the NAACP, Derrick Johnson, had said, “Let me be clear — failing to teach an accurate representation of the horrors and inequalities that Black Americans have faced and continue to face is a disservice to students and a dereliction of duty to all.”

Just before this advisory for Black Americans came, the LULAC, the League of United Latin American Citizens, had announced an advisory to Latinos. DeSantis had put into place cruel penalties for undocumented people. It may be better to book your next flight to another place next vacation.

For more information, please go to:

● https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/21/us/naacp-florida-travel-advisory/index.html

● https://naacp.org/articles/naacp-issues-travel-advisory-florida