NAACP Launches ‘Diversity No Matter What’ Pledge for Colleges and Universities

The NAACP calls on more than 1,600 U.S. public and private colleges and universities with selective admissions processes to commit to the "Diversity No Matter What" pledge following the Supreme Court's extreme decisions reversing decades of precedent on affirmative action. The Pledge is an effort to ensure that higher education institutions foster environments mirroring the nation's diversity and increase the representation of historically underrepresented students.

"Let's be clear - Black America is in a fight for our lives. The NAACP has been at the forefront of this battle for more than a century and we're not backing down," said NAACP President & CEO Derrick Johnson."It is our hope that our nation's institutions will stand with us in embracing diversity, no matter what. Regardless, the NAACP will continue to advocate, litigate, and mobilize to ensure that every Black American has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive."

The NAACP has long advocated for policies and regulations at every level of government to guarantee a first-rate education for all Black students. The "Diversity No Matter What" pledge outlines various steps that schools can take to create and sustain a culture of inclusion, belonging, and respect for the benefit of all students — and therefore our society — such as: 

• Eliminating racially biased entrance examinations and adopting a holistic approach that considers every aspect of an applicant's background, achievements, and potential.
• Supporting the matriculation and retention of low-income and first-generation students through outreach programs, scholarships, mentoring, and academic support services.
• Recruiting diverse faculty and staff who can serve as role models and mentors for our students while contributing to our curriculum and research.
• Creating a welcoming, and supportive campus climate that values diversity, stands for equity, and advances inclusion in all aspects of academic and social life.
• Striving towards greater inclusivity by ending the utilization of legacy admissions which give an advantage to children and family members of institutional alumni or donors.
• Partnering with and supporting Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions, and other Minority Serving Institutions that have deeply rooted race-conscious missions.

"When a college or university commits to our 'Diversity No Matter What' pledge, that signifies a huge stride toward future insurance that every student, regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or socioeconomic status, has an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive at a higher education institution," said Dr. Ivory Toldson, NAACP Director of Education Innovation and Research. "Protecting diversity within higher education and beyond cannot be about a political party or affiliation. This is about our ability to correct the nation's original sin and level the playing field to maintain and expand our diverse learning environments to propel our society forward towards a brighter future."

The NAACP also launched a "Diversity No Matter What" petition for their members and leaders across the country to sign. You can read and sign the petition here. 

College and university administrators can sign the "Diversity No Matter What" pledge here. 

Hill Harper declares Senate run in Michigan

Actor Hill Harper is officially running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Michigan, posing a progressive challenge to frontrunner U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin. Watch his official video announcement below:

We can all feel it: D.C just isn’t getting things done for people.

We need representatives who'll take on special interests, get money out of politics, and make our government work for all of us.

That’s why today, I’m announcing my campaign for U.S. Senate in Michigan! ✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/lv11ncDcsK

— Hill Harper (@hillharper) July 10, 2023

New Book Alert: Break the Wheel: Ending the Cycle of Police Violence by Keith Ellison

With this powerful and intimate trial diary, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison asks the key question: How do we break the wheel of police violence and finally make it stop?

The murder of George Floyd sparked global outrage. At the center of the conflict and the controversy, Keith Ellison grappled with the means of bringing justice for Floyd and his family. Now, in this riveting account of the Derek Chauvin trial, Ellison takes the reader down the path his prosecutors took, offering different breakthroughs and revelations for a defining, generational moment of racial reckoning and social justice understanding.

Each chapter of BREAK THE WHEEL goes spoke to spoke along the wheel of the system as Ellison examines the roles of prosecutors, defendants, heads of police unions, judges, activists, legislators, politicians, and media figures, each in his attempt to end this chain of violence and replace it with empathy and shared insight.

Ellison’s analysis of George Floyd’s life and the rich trial context he provides demonstrates that, while it may seem like an unattainable goal, lasting change and justice can be achieved.

CHECK OUT THE BOOK ON AMAZON

Sha'Carri Richardson wins United States 100 meter title

Sha'Carri Richardson won the 100-meter title in 10.82 seconds at the U.S. championships on Friday night.

After her victory, she conceded that she wasn’t ready for the moment at the 2021 Olympic Trials, where, shortly after her victory, she tested positive for using marijuana.

“Now, I stand here with you again and I’m ready, mentally, physically and emotionally,” said the 23-year-old, who ran in her natural black braids with a star shaved into the right side of her hairdo. “I’m here to say, ‘I’m not back, I’m better …’”

She’ll have a chance to put a stamp on that next month at the world championships, which will mark her first major international meet.

Sha’Carri Richardson runs 10.82 to take the women’s 100m national title.#USATFOutdoors | 📺: @CNBC and @peacock pic.twitter.com/06pj0m8SIr

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 8, 2023

National Society of Black Engineers pulls conference out of Florida because of DeSantis' attacks on DEI

The National Society of Black Engineers is moving its annual convention out of Florida, citing the state's attacks on diversity and inclusion as the reason.

The National Society of Black Engineers announced its 2024 convention will no longer be held in Orlando next spring after participants voiced their concerns about the state's political climate and safety.

The following message was sent to NSBE members:

Dear Members, 

Shortly into our journey to celebrating 50 years of NSBE’s annual conventions, we were faced with the responsibility of deciding how to convene in a way that is authentically us, and that honors the basis of our organization’s existence and mission. 

After careful deliberation, our National Executive Board voted to move #NSBE50 out of Florida and relocate to Atlanta, GA where we will be able to provide the full NSBE convention experience. The context of what this decision entailed is detailed below. 

Unified Voice for Social Impact & Change + Sustaining NSBE’s Legacy

Our Society originated during the Black Power Movement, a time when racial pride and truthful expression of the Black experience were amplified and at the forefront. Since then, NSBE members, advisors and staff alike have carried the torch with a goal “to increase the number of culturally responsible black engineers who excel academically, succeed professionally and positively impact the community."

With such a longstanding history, we had to take into account that the political climate in Florida seeks to undermine what we stand for and would prohibit us from existing and congregating the NSBE way.

The Pivot 

These occurrences were catalysts to the #NSBE50 location pivot, and were compounded by logistical 1 challenges, which altogether created a circumstance that would inevitably hinder us from providing an expansive, complete, and authentic NSBE convention experience. Indeed, because of the referenced occurrences and other actions – on May 20, the NAACP issued a formal travel advisory for Florida, which states, in part, “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.” Other civil rights organizations, among them the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Equality Florida and the Florida Immigrant Coalition, have expressed support for the NAACP’s action and/or have issued travel advisories of their own. Florida is at the forefront of efforts across the nation to ban diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and therefore it is important that these unified voices be heard loudly there. 

As a Black organization working towards equity for Black STEM students and professionals, we stand in solidarity with efforts and advisories from Black legacy organizations like the NAACP, especially on matters that directly affect NSBE and our mission – such as the aforementioned.

Refocusing on Celebrating NSBE50 

As we begin to shift our focus back to the joys and meaningful impact of #NSBE50, we will have a centralized focus to (1) maintain a unified voice for social impact and change; (2) support Region III and all members of the NSBE family – right where they are as well as on a national and international level; and (3) remain true to NSBE’s legacy and mission. 

We are also actively working to help our members who are directly impacted by attacks on DEI. For those of you who need assistance, we encourage you to apply for NSBE’s Chapter Relief program which is in place to address and mitigate issues like these. 

Please know that this decision was not made lightly – we approached it with thoughtfulness, care and all things considered – but ultimately with you, our stakeholders, and the integrity of NSBE in mind. We will share more details about relocating as they become available.

Sincerely, Avery Layne, 

NSBE National Chairperson 

Janeen Uzzell, NSBE CEO