Colleges Cut DEI Ties. Supreme Court Blocks Trump Tariffs. Roy Cooper Senate Bid
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Over 45 universities are severing ties with minority-focused organizations due to anti-DEI pressures.
- ❖The PhD Project, which recruits minority PhD candidates, has lost over half its university partnerships, facing significant financial hits.
- ❖The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Donald Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional, a decision welcomed by farmers and businesses.
- ❖House Speaker Mike Johnson denied the request for Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. to lie in honor at the US Capitol, sparking criticism.
- ❖Texas has the largest number of eligible Black voters (4.5 million), but low turnout allows Republicans to maintain control.
- ❖The host advocates for Black communities to adopt Jim Crow-era strategies of self-insulation and resource pooling.
- ❖Historical economic boycotts, like Jesse Jackson's Coca-Cola campaign, demonstrate the power of consumer leverage.
Insights
1Widespread University Cuts to DEI and Minority Programs
Over 45 universities are cutting ties with organizations that support people of color, including The Links and The PhD Project, which recruits African-American PhD students. This is driven by political pressure from figures like Donald Trump and Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who threaten federal funding and research grants for institutions supporting DEI initiatives. The PhD Project reported a drop from over 200 university partners to less than 100, resulting in significant financial challenges and a projected decline in minority PhD candidates.
The host mentions 45-50 institutions cutting ties () and specifically cites Texas A&M's cancellation of a minority PhD recruitment conference under gubernatorial threat (). Alfonso Alexander, President of The PhD Project, confirms a 'significant financial hit' and a reduction in university partnerships ().
2Supreme Court Blocks Trump's Tariffs as Unconstitutional
The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision declaring nearly all of Donald Trump's tariffs unconstitutional, asserting that Congress holds the sole authority for such economic measures. This ruling is seen as a major defeat for Trump's 'schizophrenic' economic policy, which had a negative impact on the US economy, particularly American farmers and Black-owned businesses. The decision is expected to have a positive impact on trade-reliant companies and farmers who faced bankruptcies and suicides due to the tariffs.
Roland Martin announces the 6-3 Supreme Court decision (). John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association, states, 'The president lost and I won, Roland. I won by six to three' (), detailing the negative impact on farmers.
3Denial of National Honor for Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.
House Speaker Mike Johnson declined a request from Democrats to allow Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. to lie in honor at the US Capitol Rotunda following his passing. This decision, based on a narrow interpretation of rules typically reserved for former presidents, is widely viewed by guests as a partisan slight and a disrespect to Jackson's significant contributions to civil rights and Black America. This contrasts with previous honors for figures like Rosa Parks and John Lewis.
Roland Martin breaks the news that House Speaker Mike Johnson 'declined the request... for Reverend Jesse Jackson Senior to lie in honor at the US Capital Rotunda' (). Wun Sean describes it as 'a slap in the face to Jesse Jackson... and to black America' ().
4Urgent Need for Black Voter Mobilization in Texas
Texas holds the largest number of eligible Black voters in the country (around 4.5 million), yet low turnout (48-52%) allows Republicans to maintain control of all statewide offices. The host and guest emphasize the critical need for D9 (Divine Nine) chapters and other Black organizations to strategically mobilize voters, focusing on precinct-level data and tying local issues to the ballot to increase participation to a minimum 70% threshold.
Roland Martin states, 'Texas has more eligible black voters than any state in the country. Around 4.5 million' () but notes low turnout (). Ena Bakeri, Deputy Executive Director of Texas Council of Alpha Chapters, details efforts to use voter data and door-to-door campaigning ().
5Shift Towards Direct-to-Student Funding and Economic Self-Reliance
Due to universities' reluctance to accept hardship funds for minority students (fearing political repercussions), a strategy shift is necessary. The host suggests bypassing institutions and directly funding students, citing Tom Joyner's foundation as a model. This approach, alongside historical examples like Jesse Jackson's Coca-Cola boycott and shareholder activism, advocates for Black communities to insulate themselves and pool resources, reminiscent of Jim Crow-era self-sufficiency, to ensure continued access to education and economic opportunities.
Roland Martin suggests, 'When Tom Tom Jonah's his foundation, he did not send the money to the schools. He sent the money to the students' (). Michael Moep references Jesse Jackson's 1981 Coca-Cola economic boycott as a successful model (). Jesse Jackson discusses leveraging consumer strength through stock purchases and shareholder meetings to influence corporate diversity ().
Bottom Line
Universities are so fearful of political backlash against DEI that they are refusing hardship scholarship funds from Black organizations, even when those funds are intended to help students in need regardless of race.
This demonstrates the chilling effect of anti-DEI legislation, pushing institutions to actively disengage from supporting minority students, even through third-party aid. It forces Black communities to reconsider traditional funding channels.
This creates an urgent need and opportunity for Black organizations and philanthropists to establish direct-to-student funding mechanisms, bypassing university administrations entirely and fostering greater community control over educational support.
Opportunities
Community-Led Direct Scholarship & Hardship Funds
Establish and promote independent funds (e.g., through Black fraternities, sororities, alumni associations, or new non-profits) that directly disburse scholarships and hardship aid to minority students, bypassing university financial aid departments. This circumvents institutional fears of anti-DEI legislation and ensures funds reach students directly.
Strategic Shareholder Activism for Diversity & Procurement
Black investment groups and community organizations can strategically purchase shares in major corporations. This allows them to attend shareholder meetings, demand transparency (e.g., EO1 reports on diversity), and leverage their collective consumer power to advocate for increased Black representation on boards, in C-suites, and in procurement lists, influencing economic principles from within.
Key Concepts
Defunding Black America
The host's framework for understanding current political and policy attacks (e.g., anti-DEI, economic policies) as a deliberate, systematic effort to cut off access and resources for Black communities across various institutions.
Invisible Hand of Racism
A concept describing how systemic racism operates through subtle, often unacknowledged mechanisms (e.g., redlining by banks and insurance companies) that limit economic growth and opportunities for Black communities, even without overt discriminatory policies.
Lessons
- Actively mobilize Black voters in local and state elections, particularly in high-impact states like Texas, by using precinct-level data to target non-voters and connect ballot issues to community 'pain points.'
- Support and donate directly to organizations like The PhD Project (phdproject.org) and other Black-led initiatives that are fighting for educational access and civil rights, as they face significant funding cuts.
- Advocate for and implement direct-to-student funding models for scholarships and hardship aid, bypassing traditional university channels to ensure financial support reaches minority students without institutional interference.
- Engage in economic activism through targeted boycotts and strategic shareholder engagement to demand corporate accountability for diversity, equity, and fair procurement practices, leveraging collective consumer power.
Notable Moments
Over 45 universities are cutting ties with organizations supporting people of color, including The PhD Project, due to anti-DEI pressures.
This signifies a widespread chilling effect of anti-DEI legislation, directly impacting minority access to higher education, research opportunities, and financial support, forcing a re-evaluation of traditional funding strategies.
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that Donald Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional, a significant loss for his economic policy.
This decision is a rare check on executive power and provides relief for American farmers and businesses that suffered economic damage from Trump's 'schizophrenic' trade policies, highlighting the judiciary's role in economic governance.
House Speaker Mike Johnson denied the request for Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. to lie in honor at the US Capitol Rotunda.
This partisan decision is seen as a deliberate disrespect to a pivotal civil rights leader, underscoring political divisions and a perceived lack of acknowledgment for Black contributions to American history and social justice.
Quotes
"What we are seeing is a massive attack by Donald Trump and MAGA against efforts... to recruit and retain African-Americans."
"The number one way that you address and dismember a black community is to start with their educational system."
"The president lost and I won, Roland. I won by six to three. And u I've talked on your show before about how the terrorists are illegal."
"If we can register 2 million new blacks in the south, we changed the South and changed the country."
"You must spend less to make than doing all that you can. That's a principle. There are few companies that can survive our sustained economic withdrawal."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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