The hiring of Marva Johnson by Florida A&M University is a political strategy to control Black institutions and influence how future generations think, said Fedrick C. Ingram, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Teachers. “They are trying to get into the brain trust of young people to change history and a cultural mindset,” Ingram asserted. “We can’t allow that to happen because what they’re trying to do is promote revisionist history.”

Despite protests and concerns about her qualifications, Ingram, representing 1.8 million educators, didn’t directly criticize the FAMU board for selecting Johnson — a longtime ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis. “We all need to be concerned about politics being inserted into our education systems, especially our HBCUs,” he said.

“Marva Johnson’s only track record in education has been as state board chair,” Ingram continued. “She was appointed by Governor DeSantis and previously by former Governor Rick Scott — both ultra-conservatives.” Johnson, he noted, “has never been a teacher, instructor, or higher education administrator.”

To place her at the helm of a flagship university like FAMU is troubling, he said, especially given her silence during key controversies — including when DeSantis claimed slavery benefited the enslaved. Ingram stressed this is about broader efforts to control institutions that shape Black identity and leadership. “They’re not just trying to run schools — they want to run our minds,” he said.

With thousands signing a petition to reverse Johnson’s appointment, Ingram urged continued pressure. “The question is not what alumni will do,” he concluded. “The question is, will Marva Johnson stand up for FAMU, or will she carry water for the governor?”v