Black Student Athletes Urged to Boycott Colleges in States with Anti-DEI Policies: A Threat to Representation and Equity in Education and Sports
The call for Black student athletes to boycott colleges and universities in states that have taken steps to restrict or abolish Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs has gained momentum among Black activists, political leaders, and advocates for equity. This comes as a record number of 81 anti-DEI bills targeting DEI initiatives at colleges have been introduced in 28 states and in Congress since the beginning of 2023, according to a tally by The Chronicle of Higher Education. Eight of these bills have already been signed into law in states such as Texas and Florida.
One of the most significant developments occurred in January when the Florida Board of Governors mandated that public colleges could no longer spend state funds on all DEI programs. In response, the University of Florida announced earlier this month that it had closed its Chief Diversity Officer’s office to comply with the Board’s directive.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has weighed in on the issue by sending a letter to Charlie Baker, the President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), urging current and prospective Black student athletes to reconsider attending predominantly White institutions in Florida. The letter highlighted the importance of Black athletes, who often contribute significantly to collegiate sports programs, particularly in football – a multi-billion-dollar industry.
“Florida’s dismantling of core representation and curricula is even more egregious when considering the all-too-often unseen business behind college sports,” the NAACP’s letter read. “Football, in particular, is more than a keyboards – it’s a multi-billion-dollar industry, with most revenue earned off the backs of Black student athletes.”
The importance of Black educators to the overall student experience was also addressed in the letter. Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP, emphasized that DEI is paramount to ensuring equitable and effective educational outcomes for Black students. “The value Black, and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched,” Johnson said in a statement accompanying the letter. “If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it’s time they take their talents elsewhere.”
In May 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law defunding DEI programs at state universities and colleges, labeling them a distraction from the core mission of public universities. Similar legislation banning DEI offices at state colleges in Texas has forced some campus programs to cease operations, impacting students’ access to essential services.
Numerous advocates for DEI have recently encouraged Black athletes to protest Florida’s anti-DEI laws or sign with schools in states that support DEI initiatives on college campuses. Emmitt Smith, a highly decorated alumnus of the University of Florida with an illustrious career in both the NCAA and NFL, released a statement last week expressing his disappointment over his alma mater’s decision to shutter its DEI office.
“We need diverse thinking and backgrounds to enhance our University,” Smith wrote, “Instead of showing courage and leadership, we continue to fail based on systemic issues. With this decision by the University, who is now closing the doors on other minorities without any oversight?”
Frank Harris, a professor teaching diversity and equity in higher education at San Diego State University, explained that Black athletes have contributed significantly to the success and high profile of predominantly White schools in college athletics. Many of these institutions have won national championships with star Black athletes on their teams. “For me, in a lot of ways, it’s hypocritical for an institution to benefit from Black talent and Black excellence in athletes without having a similar investment in their success as students and as human beings,” Harris said. “We know that diversity, equity, and inclusion programs are really about serving the whole student to make sure they feel welcomed at an institution.”
In Alabama, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would ban public funding for DEI programs at colleges and state agencies. Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin has promised to organize Black parents and athletes to attend other institutions outside of the state where diversity and inclusion are prioritized, emphasizing that student athletes hold considerable power. “These schools want to court top athletes?” Woodfin stated in a Facebook post on February 21, 2023. “Well, they have to put that same energy into courting fairness and inclusion. If not, those athletes will go where they feel welcome, even if that means outside this state.”
