Christopher Columbus Says Slavery Was ‘Better than Getting Killed’ in New Videos Approved for Florida Students

Florida has approved using controversial animated videos created by an unaccredited, right-wing group as supplemental teaching materials

by Don Mooney

Published on August 10, 2023 01:31PM EDT

Months after Florida canceled a class on African American history, the state has now endorsed the use of a controversial collection of videos by an unaccredited, right-wing group — some of which show animated versions of Christopher Columbus and Frederick Douglass defending slavery to students.

The videos are the creation of PragerU, an organization founded by conservative radio host Dennis Prager. While the videos are not considered required content in Florida schools, the state’s Department of Education has said the PragerU material “aligns to Florida’s revised civics and government standards” and “can be used as supplemental materials in Florida schools at district discretion.”

One of the videos, which has recently gone viral on social media, utilizes Columbus as a means of instructing students about slavery. “Slavery is as old as time and has taken place in every corner of the world,” the fictional Columbus says in one of the videos. “Even among the people I just left.”

The video continues: “Being taken as a slave is better than being killed, no? Before you judge, you must ask yourself, ‘What did the culture and society of the time treat as no big deal?'”

The Pensacola News Journal reports that in another PragerU video, two children travel back in time to meet Frederick Douglass, the most famous leader of the abolitionist movement to end slavery. In the video, the animated version of Douglass — who was enslaved himself and recounted being brutalized numerous times — seemingly sympathizes with the notion of slavery, calling it a “compromise.”

“I’m certainly not OK with slavery, but the Founding Fathers made a compromise to achieve something great, the making of the United States,” the animated Douglass says in the video, adding: “It was America that began the conversation to end it.”

The News Journal reports that another video in the PragerU Kids collection compares protesters in the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement “to Mexican cartel members.”

The Florida Department of Education’s endorsement of these videos comes amid recent moves by the agency and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that have led to book bans, the rejection of AP African American history courses, and the recent approval of new academic standards which require middle school teachers to instruct that enslaved people “developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

In a statement, the Florida Department of Education said in part: “The Florida Department of Education reviewed PragerU Kids and determined the material aligns to Florida’s revised civics and government standards. PragerU Kids is no different than many other resources, which can be used as supplemental materials in Florida schools at district discretion.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is running for president in 2024, has championed controversial changes to the state’s education curriculum. His administration has tried to block a high school Advanced Placement African American studies course and signed laws to restrict the instruction of reproductive health and gender identity in schools. Additionally, challenges to book access have reportedly increased as a result of DeSantis’ education bills. 

In recent months and years, Florida state officials have also banned the discussion of sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 schools — a move that has led to a battle between the state and The College Board over the national AP Psychology class, which the company has said cannot count for credit in Florida without the inclusion of lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation.

And a result of a rule implemented in July, Florida students will now be required to get their parents’ consent before using a nickname or alternate name in schools, a move that critics say targets the LGBTQ+ community and could extend well beyond.

“I’m not surprised to hear that New Hampshire is considering welcoming PragerU materials and I’m sure there will be other estates to follow,” said Lorena Germán, an educator and founder of Multicultural Classroom, an organization that promotes inclusive and culturally relevant teaching. “This will probably set a precedent, and we’re going to have other states wanting to consider this and approve it in this quest for a ‘two-sides’ argument. This legitimizes an opposing view that is not factual.”

“If I’m in a classroom, I have to know how to help young people discern from the true and the false, against propaganda,” Germán said. “We’re seeing right now what a disgruntled group of white parents can achieve. I wonder what a loud, powerful, decided group of parents of color, and students of color.”

“This is some of the most dangerous & false propaganda I’ve ever seen,” one person tweeted. “The description of Frederick Douglass in this animation is a flat out lie and the concept that children should be learning from this should scare everyone.”