Statement From the Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) on Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s Rejecton of African American Studies Courses in Florida High Schools

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It is appalling that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has made a decision to prohibit high school students from being availed the knowledge of the impact of racism on Black Americans, as well as their invaluable contributions to the growth and development of this country, all of which is a part of American History. To reject African American studies, and state that it “lacks educational value”, is racist at its core, and personifies his real disregard for the over 3 million Black Americans that reside in the state and actively contribute to its economic and cultural vitality. The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC), an organization that focuses on the elevation and empowerment of Black Americans, and addresses the social justice and public health issues impacting Black Americans affirms that racism is a public health issue and hence calls on the Florida Department of Education and the College Board to immediately rebuke these racist actions.

• The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition, Florida Chapter

The Black Leadership AIDS Crisis Coalition (BLACC) is an affinity group of AIDS Healthcare Foundation. The group was developed to create a coalition of Black- American cultural influencers and health advocates who would revolutionize outreach to the Black American community. By elevating the education and awareness of sexual health and wellness, BLACC brings a greater awareness to the social justice issues disproportionately impacting the health and wellness of Black Americans. To learn more, please visit our website: www.blacc.net

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.7 million individuals in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Eastern Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us @aidshealthcare.