NAACP Sends Letter Urging Florida Department of Children to Address Racist Incident at Local School
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 12, 2023
Contact: Alicia Mercedes, amercedes@naacpnet.org
WASHINGTON – Today, the NAACP Center for Education Innovation and Research, in partnership with the NAACP Florida State Conference sent letters to the Florida Department of Children and Families and Building Brains Academy addressing concerns of racially unethical actions which took place at the academy located in Osceola, Florida. It has been reported that a 2-year-old Black student was handcuffed and fingerprinted by a White peer during a Rosa Parks role-play.
The letter to the Florida Department of Children and Families can be accessed here. The letter to Building Brains Academy can be accessed here.
"Reenactments should be impactful and educational. The incident at Building Brains Academy represents a severe breach of ethical standards and a failure to comprehend the Civil Rights Movement's profound importance. Trivializing our history is abhorrent," said Dr. Ivory Toldson, Director of NAACP Center for Education & Innovation. "Education must focus on empathy and respect, not on perpetuating trauma. We insist that schools implement teaching methods that promote understanding and solidarity,"
This incident is symptomatic of a broader, troubling trend of attempts to suppress and rewrite Black history in Florida. The obtained images depict a deplorable simulation of violence against a Black child, misappropriating a Black history lesson while inflicting psychological harm on all students involved. The school has neither issued an apology nor shown any willingness to revise its contentious curriculum.
"The incident at Building Brains Academy highlights the dire need for cultural competence in education. Our children deserve an environment that honors their histories and experiences," said Dr. Adora Nweze, NAACP Florida State Conference President. "The portrayal of Rosa Parks should be a source of empathy, not a means to inflict pain. The Florida NAACP State Conference vehemently denounces this act. Our educational institutions must commit to inclusive and accurate historical representations and teachings that preserve the emotional well-being of all students."
For more information on the NAACP's education innovation work, visit our website.
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The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.