On February 20, 25 white Republican members of the Alabama State Senate introduced themselves SB129a bill to essentially eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in public institutions in the state.

The proposed bill not only prohibits any “state agency, local board of education, or public institution of higher education from sponsoring any diversity, equity, and inclusion programs or maintaining any office, physical location, or department” dedicated to DEI or similar “divisive concepts,” it gives also gives agencies the power to “discipline or discharge” employers and contractors who violate the law. While the proposal allows for personal funding, it prohibits students, faculty and staff at public higher education institutions in Alabama from applying for personal or federal funding that supports diversity, equity and inclusion.

Alabama’s caucaity legislative act reflects enacted laws Arizona, Kentucky, Oklahomaand a minimum of 21 other states. On March 1, the University of Florida complied with the governor’s executive order. Ron DeSantis Law Pausing funding for diversity spending by terminating all DEI-related positions. UF’s decision drew a sharp rebuke from Gator football legend Emmitt Smith, who issued a statement regarding Twitter suggesting that college athletes use their platform to talk out. More importantly, Smith felt no have to let white people off the hook.

“We cannot continue to trust that a leadership team of the same background will make the right decision when it comes to equality and diversity,” he added. Smith wrote on Twitter. “To the MANY minority athletes at UF, please be aware of this University decision that, without any oversight, closes the door to other minorities and speaks out about it. And for those who think it’s not your problem and stay on the sidelines and say nothing, you are complicit in supporting systemic problems.”

Translation: You have to be crazy in the event you think white people will ever use their power to dismantle racist systems built by white people. And white individuals who do nothing, I blame you all too.

Smith wasn’t the only distinguished figure to specific displeasure with the right-wing attack on diversity, equality and inclusion. In a series of tweets, Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Randall Woodfin, who leads certainly one of the U.S The blackest citieshe said he had “no problem with providing classes for black parents and athletes at other out-of-state institutions.”

It’s also about a strong-arm robbery.

Woodfin notes that taxpayers wa 27% Black the state foots the bill for giant, mostly white public universities like the University of Alabama (11% Black) and Auburn University (4.5% black). But Woodfin didn’t put the onus entirely on black athletes to dismantle institutional whiteness. While the state’s recent anti-DEI proposal will likely exacerbate this systemic theft, the two-term mayor notes that coaches, fans and lawmakers don’t appear to have a problem with DEI after they literally parachute into a school district that’s 99% non-white recruit athletes who will add to the ongoing generational wealth generators fueled by black taxpayers and student-athletes.

“These athletic directors, coaches and representatives of these flagship programs will actively come to Birmingham, land a helicopter on the high school campus, sit down at Big Mom’s house and say, ‘We want your child to come to our school to play football,'” basketball,” Woodfin said. “At the very same time, in the same breath, the same institutions are saying, ‘We’re not going to support programs that support you offline or off the basketball court. Or consciously support diverse faculty and staff and professors. We’re going to make it illegal.

“My disappointment stems from the fact that chancellors and presidents have not said anything,” he added. “The coaches and sports directors didn’t say anything. Don’t tell me you want these Black people on your sports fields and basketball courts, but you won’t support them anywhere else on campus. Why should they come? Why should they play for you?”

In addition to using his “bully bully pulpit to call out any form of injustice or any immoral law at all times,” the two-term mayor is encouraging athletes, parents, community members, Black student unions and other student organizations to arrange against SB129. ON Wednesdayover 100 alabama college students from across the state gathered at the statehouse to challenge lawmakers. More than 5,000 interested parties signed the act Petition protect diversity, equity and inclusion in the country. And if all else fails, Woodfin desires to hit them in the pocket.

In 2020, after serving on the Birmingham Department of Youth Services, the district’s Economic Opportunity Commission and as president of the Birmingham City Schools board, Woodfin formed The Birmingham Promise, which provides scholarships, financial aid and academic support to any Birmingham City Schools graduate who desires to attend a two- or four-year college in the state. The initiative has provided greater than $5 million in tuition assistance through 2023, including thousands and thousands in donations from corporate sponsors and individuals who have pledged to support causes similar to diversity, equity and inclusion in the wake of the George Floyd rebellion in 2020, Woodfin wondered what would occur if leaders used their influence and connections to steer corporate donors to present dollars to programs like the Birmingham Promise moderately than to institutions that espouse divisive white supremacist ideas.

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“I can literally go to public and corporate leaders in Birmingham and say, ‘What are you doing to support diversity?’ What are you doing to support equality? What are you doing to support social inclusion?” Woodfin said. “What are you doing in the private sector to offset this? As a leader, I can remind them of what they have voluntarily committed to. We cannot allow them to hide behind…state laws that prohibit the use of public tax dollars to support DEI. These are conversations I can have.”

While Birmingham advantages from the state The $200 Million College Football Economythe Morehouse alum reiterated that he has no problem organizing an effort to discourage athletes from attending these historically anti-black colleges. Like Smith, Woodfin believes that athlete influence mustn’t be the only line of defense against white Republican power plays.

In Kentucky, senators pressed repeatedly bills banning schools “expenditure of any resources or funds for diversity equality, inclusion and belonging or political or social activism.” A University of Louisville professor working at the intersection of DEI and sports noted that – because of the competitive nature of faculty sports – athletic departments at predominantly white institutions will feel the impact of those regressive initiatives even if Black student-athletes do nothing.

“College athletes were celebrated for following the rules and not exploiting their individual power,” said a Louisville instructor who spoke anonymously to guard their employment. “But what about companies using name, image and likeness agreements to sell products? Why should local corporations and supporters who support these legislators get a pass?”

Far-right wingers in Alabama may have inadvertently banned college sports.

Most universities have a compliance office to avoid violating regulations governing college athletics. According to NCAA Division I Athletic Regulations, each lively institution must “conduct an equity, diversity and inclusion review at least every four years and provide written confirmation of completion to the national office.” By declaring that students, employees, and contractors are prohibited from “participating in or participating in any diversity, equity, and inclusion program or in any training, orientation, or course,” Alabama’s recent Jim Crow quasi-decree apparently could make the completion of this The NCAA will change into an illegal requirement. In fact, the law would prohibit public universities from “sponsoring… or maintaining(maintaining) any office, physical location, or department that promotes diversity, equity and inclusion,” essentially defunding six officials inside Auburn compliance department. Anyway, using state, federal and NCAA funds to attain mission “encouraging diversity and equal treatment of all” – the entire compliance office can be illegal under the recent Alabama law.

Because the law doesn’t allow schools to “authorize or disburse funds, apply for or accept grant, federal or private funding” for these “divisive concepts,” Alabama colleges may not find a way to compete for 26 NCAA $10,000 scholarships dedicated to “ethnic minorities and women”. Does Alabama’s law conflict with Title IX law, which “prohibits schools receiving federal funds from discriminating on the basis of sex in their programs or activities?” Will administrators and coaches at Alabama’s seven Division II schools be fired in the event that they file a lawsuit? NCAA Diversity Grants?

“If I were a student or professor at the University of Alabama, I would be running towards the transfer portal,” commented a University of Louisville faculty member. “Ultimately, students will choose universities where they feel safe and supported. Black athletes are no different. Eventually, these universities will begin to lose professors, coaches, players and staff to universities that do not prohibit being black. Laws have consequences and this will all come down eventually. The numbers don’t lie.”

When asked if HBCUs stand to learn from this exodus, the Auburn insider noted that 52 of the 101 HBCUs are public institutions, which suggests they’re subject to the same discriminatory regulations. “Don’t forget – even though large colleges are majority white, they are not white-owned,” the Auburn insider added. “They belong to

“There is no bigger Bama fan than me,” Woodfin added. “But I am also a fan and we cannot afford to remain silent.”

You too, white people.

Michael Harriot is a author, cultural critic and master-level Spades player. His book Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America will likely be published in September.