Ron DeSantis’ academic restrictions show he hopes to change history by censoring it

Florida's Stop Woke Act and ban on African American studies will only deprive students of the right to think and learn

For some time now, conservative groups pressured libraries and classrooms to remove certain controversial" books from their shelves and their syllabi. These are texts that tell uncomfortable or unpopular truths about our nation's origins, including inequality, race, history, gender, sexuality, power and class - a range of subjects that a small but vocal group of Americans would prefer to ignore or deny.

These efforts achieved one of their most notable successes last April when Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed the Stop Woke Act, which prohibits in-school discussions about racism, oppression, LBGTQ+ issues and economic inequity. Books that have not been officially vetted and approved must be hidden or covered, lest teachers unknowingly break an ill-defined law against distributing pornography - a felony.