DeSantis defends history curriculum on NBC: Slaves developed skills 'in spite of slavery, not because of it'

Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., defended the state's new African-American history curriculum that has sparked controversy in an NBC Nightly News interview. 

Critics of Florida's new curriculum focused on this line, "Instruction includes how slaves develop skills, which in some instances could be applied for their personal benefit." Vice President Kamala Harris and left-wing media outlets claimed Florida's curriculum teaches students that slaves in the U.S. "benefited from slavery" — an accusation which DeSantis' administration has fiercely denied. 

"That means they developed skills in spite of slavery, not because of slavery," DeSantis told NBC News. "It was them showing resourcefulness and then using those skills once slavery ended."