Following a call by the NAACP's Derrick Johnson asking Black student-athletes to consider boycotting Florida public colleges and universities, the local Tallahassee chapter of the NAACP is offering guidance for students who wish to do so.
According to WCTV, the president of the Tallahassee chapter of the NAACP, Mutaqee Akbar, explained that the letter from Johnson was connected to the state’s decision to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs at all Florida universities. Akbar said students could consider going to universities outside of Florida and that if students want to stay in-state, they could consider going to an HBCU.
“Go to other states where they aren’t attacking Black history and they’re not attacking DEI,” Akbar said. “Maybe at that point, the universities will step up. Maybe the fans will step up, alumni will step up and say these policies that are being implemented by the DeSantis administration and our legislature are not right.”
A spokesperson for Florida State University told WCTV that the school's DEI programs have been discontinued as of fall of 2023, with two related positions repurposed and one position given alternative duties.
“The Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) Office was discontinued,” she wrote. “Any functions allowed by law were moved to the Human Resources Office of Equal Opportunity Compliance and Engagement (EOCE).”
Jamin Bryant has spent three years at FAMU and plays football, basketball and runs track, and said DEI programs are worth standing up for.
“As a minority student-athlete, if there’s something going on in the school organization that kind of circumscribes your background knowledge of your culture, I feel like you should make a change or go find a different option,” Bryant said.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount to ensuring equitable and effective educational outcomes,” Johnson said in a statement accompanying the letter, which was first reported by NBC News on Tuesday. “The value Black and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched.”
Johnson suggested that if Florida schools are not able to invest in Black athletes, they should "choose to take their talents elsewhere."
