Do not visit Florida, NAACP issues travel advisory to Black tourists

Floorida Governor Ron DeSantis (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP)

At the weekend, the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) issued a travel advisory for the state of Florida, United States, in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’s “aggressive attempts to erase Black history” and to restrict diversity, equity, and inclusion programmes in schools.

“Under the leadership of DeSantis, Florida has become hostile to Black Americans and in direct conflict with the democratic ideals that our union was founded upon,” NAACP president and CEO, Derrick Johnson said.

“Therefore, we are advising African Americans and others that if you travel to Florida, beware that your life is not valued, that we have a political landscape that could cause harm as we prepare for the 2024 elections to right-size the political landscape in the state of Florida,” Johnson said.

The NAACP advisory comes on the heels of a similar Florida travel warning last week from the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), which has called Florida’s new immigration policies “hostile and dangerous” for Latino travelers.

The Florida governor, who is expected to announce a presidential run this week, is known for his war on what he calls “woke indoctrination.”

Last year, DeSantis signed a controversial bill that banned teachers from addressing topics related to race and blocked students’ access to an AP African American studies course, claiming there was a political agenda to teach that “the country is rotten and that our institutions are illegitimate.”

Explaining why it issued the travel advisory, NAACP President yesterday said African Americans’ lives “are not valued” in Florida, in response to the state’s education, immigration and LGBTQ policies.

“We didn’t end here overnight. It was because of the election,” Johnson said on ‘CNN This Morning.’

“So we have to prepare for the next election, so we can get rid of him once and for all. This bothering that we have seen first by Trump, now by him, is not only un-American, it’s dangerous, and we have to right-size this landscape.”

In 2022, Florida welcomed 137.6 million visitors, the most in the state’s history. Domestic travelers from other states accounted for just under 93 per cent of visitors.

Just last week, the governor’s office touted that the state attracted a record 37.9 million visitors between January and March 2023, according to Visit Florida estimates.

Representative Byron Donalds (Republican-Fla.) called the travel advisory “really stupid. I don’t even know what the NAACP is talking about,” Donalds, who is Black, said on “Fox and Friends” yesterday. “This is silly and it’s dumb. It’s political. It makes no sense.”

In March, when the NAACP’s Florida chapter asked the national civil-rights organization to urge Black Americans to stay away from the state, DeSantis dismissed it a “joke, a stunt and ridiculous.”

Whether the NAACP’s advisory will deter enough Black travelers to make a dent in Florida’s $115 billion tourism industry remains to be seen

“It can take up to 12 weeks for us to review your documentation and let you know if your record attempt has been accepted as the new record holder or rejected.”

The multi-talented foodprenuer, renowned for her exceptional homemade tasty recipes, is a TV producer, actress and presenter and the founder of My Food by Hilda, a restaurant and delivery service for African and continental dishes based in Lekki, Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday shared the joy of celebration as Hilda places Nigeria on the global spotlight. Buhari also lauded the young culinary expert for turning her talent and passion into a career, with a rippling effect on the economy as she runs a restaurant in Lagos, and trains other talents on entrepreneurship, and now leads the world in resilience, perseverance, and consistency in cooking.

Her foray into catering was influenced by her mother’s culinary techniques prior to establishing her business with her brother while a student. She extended her skills to television, starting with the cooking segment, In My Kitchen, on Rave TV’s breakfast show, Morning Rave. She was also the host of Dine on A Budget, on Pop Central TV, where she engaged celebrities on topical issues and treats.

Not a stranger to culinary feats and victories, she represented Nigeria at the Jollof Faceoff Competition in 2021, where she emerged winner.

The President noted the antecedents of the restaurateur, who dazzled at the Jollof Face-off Competition, 2021, preparing mouth-watering dishes that won the choice prize, and settled an age-long rivalry with Ghana on which African country should own the trademark for cooking better jollof- rice.

President Buhari affirmed that Hilda Baci’s drive and ambition have brought more interest and insight into the uniqueness of Nigerian food, as another cultural icon, with huge tourism benefits, hoping more young people will follow in her footsteps.

The President further thanked the sponsors of Hilda Baci Cook-a-thon, government officials, including Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, celebrities from the bubbling music and movie industry, and fans of the chef for all the support that has brought glory to the country.

Similarly, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, has sent a congratulatory message to Hilda. Lawan indicated that her feat is a signal to the rest of the world that Nigerians are talented and are capable of excelling in any endeavour.

A member of the House of Representatives, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, yesterday, lauded Hilda for her feat. Akande-Sadipe, who represents Oluyole Federal Constituency, cheered the foodpreneur and actress on, describing her as a brave champion.

Expressing her heartfelt appreciation and unwavering support to the brave chef, Akande-Sadipe said her determination and incredible endurance is a testament to the remarkable strength and resilience that women possess.

She said: “You have become a shining example of what women are truly capable of achieving. Your dedication to this extraordinary challenge inspires us all and reminds us that there are no limits to what we can accomplish when we set our minds to it. Your commitment to pushing boundaries and surpassing expectations is truly commendable.”

She urged women to continue cheering Hilda on and wish her success, saying, “I take this moment of Hilda’s determination to encourage every woman out there to celebrate and uplift Hilda in her pursuit of this world record”.

“Let us join together in recognizing her remarkable achievements and the milestones she has already conquered. Hilda’s journey is not only about breaking records but also about empowering women across the globe, showcasing our talents, prowess, strength and resilience”, Akande-Sadipe said.