The NAACP is calling on black student-athletes to boycott Florida universities after the University of Florida eliminated all diversity, equity, and inclusion positions on campus.
The university’s decision is consistent with a new state policy that prevents public and state institutions from using government funds for diversity and inclusion activities.
“This is not about politics,” states the letter, which was sent on Monday. “It’s about the protection of our community, the progression of our culture, and most of all, it’s about your education and your future.”
The letter went on to say, “This is not simply about sports; it’s about acknowledging and advocating for the rights and support of black students within educational environments.”
The National Board of Directors Chair Leon W. Russell and President and CEO of the NAACP Derrick Johnson both sign the letter.
They argue that Florida’s new DEI attitude is consistent with Republican Gov. Ron DeSanti’s anti-black policies. They further claim that DeSantis “has made no effort to conceal his administration’s devaluation of Black America” and is now launching a war on Black America.
“Florida’s rampant anti-black policies are a direct threat to the advancement of our young people and their ability to compete in a global economy,” the governor said in a statement.
“The value Black and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched,” he went on to say. “If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it’s time they take their talents elsewhere.”
The University of Florida, Florida State University, and the University of South Florida have some of the most well-known football and basketball programs in the country, producing more than $177 million in income from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022, according to the Department of Education.
But Florida isn’t the only Republican-led state opposing “woke” programs like DEI projects.
According to an NBC News analysis, Republican lawmakers in more than 30 states sponsored or passed over 100 laws this legislative season to prohibit or control DEI initiatives.
Some of these laws specifically target schools.
Last year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) passed legislation directing state-funded institutions to close their DEI offices.
As initiatives to prevent DEI grow, some have highlighted worries about the impact on kids.
Randall Woodfin, the mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, stated on Facebook in February that if his state approved legislation to prohibit financing for DEI in public colleges, he would advise student-athletes to consider schools outside of Alabama “where diversity and inclusion are prioritized.”
Nevertheless, the University of Florida’s decision has sparked widespread criticism, especially from alumni.
NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith stated on X, the site formerly known as Twitter, that he is “utterly disgusted” by his alma mater and the precedent it has established.
Ashley L. White, an education fellow at the NAACP, believes that Black America drives the growth and prosperity of American culture, particularly in educational institutions.
“Colleges seeking to benefit from black talent must invest in the education of all black students without question,” White said in a statement. “Promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access across colleges and universities is paramount to cultivating excellence.”
The letter noted that sports scholarships could prevent certain people from engaging in the boycott. It stated that for some black student athletes, playing on a collegiate team may be their only opportunity to achieve “the upward mobility necessary to propel them into their rightful places in society.”
“This imbalance of power and profit demands a response, particularly because these institutions reap considerable financial benefits from the very individuals they fail to stand by in matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” according to the letter. “If any institution is to reap the benefits of black talent, it is only right that they completely invest in black futures.”
However, the NAACP stated that the burden is not solely on black pupils.
“UF and other public institutions have the opportunity to be more than sports powerhouses,” the organization stated in a statement. “They can be leaders in creating a completely supportive educational environment for all students.” Until that happens, it is incumbent on each individual—and the larger community—to hold these institutions accountable.”
