The Florida Department of Education provided a list of 16 former slaves they say "benefited" from skills they learned in slavery & used to support themselves after being freed. They were wearing about most of them. Those who did spend time in slavery did not learn their skills as slaves. 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗧. 𝗪𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻 - did not gain his skills until after he was freed at age 9. 𝗟𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗿 - A museum dedicated to Latimer states he was born to two self-liberated formerly enslaved parents. Self-educated, he worked as an inventor, participating in the development of the telephone, incandescent lighting & other inventions. 𝗝𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗻 - The Museum of the American Revolution describes Forten as a Black entrepreneur born to free parents. He served on privateer ships during the Revolutionary War and became a wealthy sailmaker 𝗛𝗲𝗻𝗿𝘆 𝗕𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿 - Biography.com and several other sites state there is no information indicating that Blair was enslaved. He invented a corn planter and a cotton planter, becoming the second Black person to earn a U.S. patent. 𝗣𝗮𝘂𝗹 𝗖𝘂𝗳𝗳𝗲 - the FL Dept of Ed said he was a shoemaker & shipowner born into slavery who escaped to freedom in 1781. According to PaulCuffe.org, operated by the Westport Historical Society, Cuffe was born in 1759 to an emancipated slave. Having worked on whaling boats starting at age 14, he established a shipping business in Massachusetts. 𝗝𝗼𝗵𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝘀 - the Dept said he was a fisherman born into slavery. The North Carolina Museum of History states that Chavis was born into a free Black family in North Carolina, fought in the Revolutionary War and became an educator. “They just threw out a bunch of names to make it seem like something good came of (slavery),” said Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association teachers union. “The reality of it is, the facts don’t back up what they are saying.” Parents, don't let your kids go to Florida schools if you don't want them to be ignorant laughingstocks.