Travel advisory not the answer for Florida policies

The NAACP Board of Directors has advised Black people to take precautions when traveling to Florida.

The board stated in a recent press release that the travel advisory comes in direct response to “Gov. Ron DeSantis' aggressive attempts to erase Black history and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in Florida schools.”

The formal travel notice states: “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.”

DeSantis recently launched his 2024 presidential campaign on Twitter with CEO Elon Musk. His policies concerning race, gender, abortion, public education, immigration, and other critical issues prompted Equality Florida and the League of United American Citizens, one of the largest Hispanic and LatinAmerican organizations in the United States, to issue a travel advisory.

Some claim that months earlier, DeSantis rejected students' access to an Advanced Placement course on African-American studies. I'm not a DeSantis fan. However, he didn't reject the AP course. In a press conference, DeSantis explained that specific courses in the curriculum, such as Black Queer Studies and Black Lives Matter that includes abolishing prisons, weren't teaching Black History but instead pushing a particular ideology or political agenda.

Some of the subjects DeSantis eliminated should have remained, and others I agree with shouldn't be included in the AP course.

Individuals involved with developing the curriculum should have been more strategic regarding specific topics that aren't the central theme of Black History.

Not sticking to basic Black History that many people still don't know and that has been skewed only opened the door for DeSantis to pick and choose.

As for the travel advisory, an economic boycott could potentially hurt Florida, especially Black Americans.

Black Floridians account for 40 percent of the homeless population in the sunshine state. The median income for Black people is $48,000, and Florida is one of the most expensive places to live in the United States.

Many Black Floridians can't relocate, although racism exists in every U.S. state, some more overt than others.

Also, according to Newsweek.com 25 most visited spots in America, Disney World, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot Disney World, and Disney Hollywood Studios were among the vacation sites. Mickey Mouse is the biggest money maker and employer for Florida.

In a 2022 town hall meeting with Charlie Crist, who ran against DeSantis' re-election for governor, Black attendees said they felt targeted by DeSantis' policies. The community also voiced that their primary concerns are the economy, affordable housing, the cost of living in Florida, and public education.

I hope the NAACP has a plan or long-term strategy other than telling people not to travel to Florida. Or for Floridians to join in the fight.

Meanwhile, the Black community there should begin a search for candidates that represent their position at the state and local levels. Democratic activists acknowledged that the party nationally had done little to help in Florida concerning elections. Instead, most of the money flowed to battleground states.

Those who travel to Florida while there should support Black businesses and visit some of the cultural centers, purchasing products.

Expose young people to Black History outside of the public school system. Blackowned bookstores offer a variety of books about Black History. Some Podcasts and YouTube channels teach Black History through online book club discussions.

Movement work goes beyond a travel advisory.