Florida churches are stepping up to teach Black history classes

At New Generation Missionary Baptist Church in Opa-locka, a new class has gained popularity with younger congregants — and it’s not your typical Bible study or Sunday school. Since last year, the church has been teaching classes about African American history using a program created by leaders from Faith in Florida, a coalition of over 800 congregations across 41 counties in Florida. The group of religious leaders developed the Black studies toolkit last year to counter the Florida Legislature’s controversial revision of state academic standards, which put a particular focus on reshaping Black history education. “Now, our Black history classes are larger than our Sunday school classes and Bible classes because it has struck an interest,” said the Rev. Rhonda Thomas, executive director of Faith in Florida. “Children can understand that Martin Luther King is not just about a parade.” Since its launch in May of 2023, hundreds of historically Black churches in Florida and across the country have joined the movement, using the toolkit to help fill the void they feel has been left by lawmakers attempting to water down the history of Black people in America. The Black church, a term that refers to a congregation that falls...