Days after a Florida A&M University College of Law student said administrators asked her to remove or change the word “Black” from promotional materials for a Black History Month event, the school has clarified that this was a staff-level error.
Aaliyah Steward, a final-year law student and one of the leaders of the Black Law Students Association, said to WKMG News 6 in Orlando that university officials asked her to remove certain words before her event flyers could be approved.
She said those words included “Black,” “affirmative action,” and “women.” School officials told the event organizers they had to rewrite those words and phrases or abbreviate them.
“I was very angry and baffled because this is a Historically Black College and University (HBCU),” Steward said in the report, “and for them to say we can’t use the word ‘Black’ was kind of insane.”
Florida A&M said at the time that it was following state law and guidance from the Florida Board of Governors. “Florida A&M University has consistently been in full compliance with Senate Bill 266 and Board of Governors’ Regulation 9.016. We support and have implemented the policy direction established by the Governor, the Legislature, and the Board of Governors as it relates to DEI, and consistent with related federal court rulings,” a statement from the school said.
But three days after the university released this statement, FAMU President Marva Johnson and the College of Law’s Interim Dean Cecil Howard also released statements to clarify the issue. They said that the word “Black” is not a violation but rather a misinterpretation of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) laws that FAMU and other universities across the state have been following these past few years.
In a statement to the Tallahassee Democrat on February 9, Howard said, “What occurred was a staff-level error – an overly cautious interpretation that went beyond what the law requires. It has been corrected, and I take full responsibility for ensuring it does not happen again.”
Howard said he even met with some of the students as soon as the issue got to the media.
“I immediately met with some of the students involved to provide clarification and to state unequivocally: the word ‘Black’ is not prohibited. No such restriction exists, and none has been directed by university leadership,” Howard said in his statement. “Compliance with state law will never require us to erase our identity – and this administration will not allow it.”
Florida’s public universities cannot use state or federal funds for DEI programs following legislation signed by the governor and supported by the Board of Governors. Many have said that the restrictions affect HBCUs the most since they are all about Black history and culture.
“As the state’s only public historically Black university, the word ‘Black’ is central to the mission and identity of Florida A&M University,” Johnson also said in a statement to the Democrat.
“We take seriously our responsibility to communicate clearly and consistently on matters of law, governance and public accountability. The university unequivocally confirms that the use of the word ‘Black,’ or the phrase ‘Black History Month,’ does not violate the letter, spirit or intent of Florida Senate Bill 266, Board of Governors Regulation 9.016 or any relevant federal guidance.”
