Earlier today, ESPN reported that the NAACP has asked back student-athletes to reconsider their decisions to attend public colleges and universities in the state of Florida. According to ESPN’s report, the NAACP’s request came in response to the University of Florida and other state schools recently eliminating their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) programs.
In a letter sent to NCAA president Charlie Baker (a former Republican Governor of Massachusetts) and addressed to current and prospective student-athletes Monday, NAACP president and CEO Derrick Johnson wrote, “This is not about politics. 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.”
In 2023, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that prohibited the use of state funds for any DEI programs. As a result, the University of Florida announced on March 1 it had closed the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, eliminated 13 full-time DEI positions and 15 administrative appointments and halted DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors.
Other in-state schools, such as the University of North Florida and Florida International University, have also recently shuttered DEI programs.
In a statement, Johnson said, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount to ensuring equitable and effective educational outcomes. The value Black and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched. If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it’s time they take their talents elsewhere.”
Author
