A mentorship program for Black kids, a museum dedicated to Black history, and minority teacher grants were all vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The Republican governor eliminated a number of state budget line items aimed at uplifting the underprivileged while still criticizing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the public and commercial sectors.
The Legislature had allocated $750,000 for a development fund for the Florida Museum of Black History, but he revoked it. In order to raise awareness and appreciation of Black heritage in the state, the Legislature allocated that money to create a site in Opa-locka.
The funds were requested by Miami Gardens Democrat Sen. Shevrin Jones.
In addition to providing a center for education, community involvement, and cultural enrichment, this project seeks to establish a location devoted to conserving and honoring the rich history, culture, and contributions of Florida’s Black population. reads an application from Ten North Group founder and former Democratic politician Willie Logan, who was once a candidate for House Speaker.
Jones also pushed for the budget to include $200,000 for the Dr. Harold Guinyard Leadership Academy’s One Hundred Black Men of South Florida program, which trains middle and high school boys to be successful men and community mentors.
Jones was unhappy by the veto, but he noted that given the governor’s prior practices, cutting the funding was to be expected.
It doesn’t surprise me in the least. Take a look at the organization’s name: 100 Black Men. “Take a look at this governor’s record,” Jones remarked.
You should know all you need to know from that alone. This veto is in line with an administration that has often demonstrated its views on funding Black communities. Unfortunately, it’s not out of character, which is unfortunate.
The same, he said, applies to eliminating financing for the Black History Museum.
Notably, the veto pen seems to have saved $1 million for a Florida Museum of Black History in Northeast Florida.
Sen. Tom Leek, a Republican from Ormond Beach who supported the funding for the museum in the St. Augustine area, expressed his gratitude.
The Governor did, however, cut $1.5 million in scholarships and assistance for the Minority Teacher Scholarship Program that lawmakers had budgeted. The Florida Fund for Minority Teachers is in charge of that initiative, which seeks to increase the number of minority professionals entering the teaching profession.
Additionally, DeSantis withheld $124,000 for the Jos Mart Scholarship Challenge Grant Fund, which provides need-based financial aid for Hispanic students to attend public or private universities. The state Department of Education has previously been in charge of administering the scholarships.
For the past 20 years, the Fund has provided scholarships.
