Florida Students Take Learning Into Their Own Hands With Saturday Black History Classes
Florida students are reclaiming their education, dedicating their Saturday mornings to Black history lessons that have been left out of their classrooms.
WFTV 9 reports that programs like the one at the Spady Cultural Heritage Museum in Delray Beach offer teens a chance to explore topics ranging from South Florida’s Caribbean roots to the impact of segregation and the grassroots efforts of the Civil Rights Movement. Charlene Farrington's sessions emphasize the importance of understanding history to shape a better future.
“You need to know how it happened before so you can decide how you want it to happen again,” Farrington told students gathered in the museum’s historic wooden bungalow.
These initiatives are part of a broader movement supported by advocacy groups and Black churches.
Faith in Florida has distributed a Black history toolkit to over 400 congregations, ensuring lessons reach community members despite the gaps in the state’s public education system.
Although Florida has required the teaching of African American history since 1994, its implementation remains inconsistent. State metrics reveal that only a few school districts excel in integrating Black history into their curricula.
Parents and students have expressed frustration, noting that instruction often focuses narrowly on figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Rosa Parks, leaving more nuanced stories relegated to Black History Month.
