Some conservatives in the United States voiced concerns that teaching about African-American history in high schools amounted to “woke indoctrination,” so curriculum makers adapted their lessons.
Republicans in Florida claimed the new advanced course was useless because it was only in draught form.
On Wednesday, the United States College Board released the official syllabus, which omitted some of the content at the center of the controversy.
Among civil rights groups, the National Black Justice Coalition has voiced concern over the changes.
Last month, the administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is widely expected to run for president in 2024, declared that the state’s high schools will not be teaching the course’s draught version.
It was described as “woke indoctrination masquerading as instruction” by Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr.
He published a chart detailing the state’s complaints about the course, saying it was illegal and full of critical race theory, which teaches that racism is embedded in US institutions.
Students who take advantage of AP opportunities can earn college credit toward graduation.
The US College Board is in charge of them, and the African-American history curriculum is the first brand-new offering from the nonprofit institution since 2014.
In particular, Republicans in Florida took issue with references to “Black Queer Studies,” “Intersectionality,” “Black Feminist Literary Thought,” and “the Reparations Movement” in the draught.
Sections named “the Movement for Black Lives” and “Black Struggle in the 21st Century” were eliminated entirely, and the College Board downplayed their mention of intersectionality.
Kimberlé Crenshaw, bell hooks, and Ta-Nehisi Coates, three black left-leaning authors, were also removed after complaints from Florida.
The “Black Conservatism” portion was introduced to the exam, and the “Black Lives Matter” and slavery reparations sections were withdrawn to become elective projects.
Revisions to the official curriculum, totaling 234 pages, were disclosed on the first day of Black History Month, prompting an outcry from the civil rights group National Black Justice Coalition.
“As an organisation committed to advancing and protecting the interest of Black people, we believe the decision to move forward with the launch of this course without key components that are inextricably part of the Black experience is akin to educational malpractice,” the group said in a statement.
In response to Mr. DeSantis’ announcement that Florida would restrict the material, the College Board claimed it was not influenced by Florida Republicans and had already made revisions to the course.
“The fact of the matter is that this landmark course has been shaped over years by the most eminent scholars in the field, not political influence,” the organisation said in a statement.
