Colleges Cut DEI Ties. Supreme Court Blocks Trump Tariffs. Roy Cooper Senate Bid
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖Over 45 universities are cutting ties with organizations supporting people of color, including The PhD Project and The Links, due to anti-DEI pressure.
- ❖The PhD Project experienced a drop from over 200 university partnerships to under 100, leading to significant financial strain and reduced access for minority PhD candidates.
- ❖The host and guests characterize these DEI cuts as a deliberate effort to 'defund black America' by limiting access to higher education, contracts, and grants.
- ❖The Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision declaring most of Donald Trump's tariffs unconstitutional, affirming Congress's authority.
- ❖The tariff ruling is seen as a major victory for American farmers and businesses, who faced bankruptcies and economic instability due to Trump's policies.
- ❖House Speaker Mike Johnson denied Democrats' request for Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol, a decision criticized as partisan and disrespectful.
- ❖Panelists emphasized Reverend Jackson's pioneering presidential campaigns, his role in opening doors for black political leadership, and his effective economic boycotts, such as the 1981 Coca-Cola boycott.
- ❖There is a strong call for increased black voter turnout and strategic, localized voter mobilization efforts, particularly in states like Texas where black voters are numerous but underrepresented in actual turnout.
- ❖The current political climate necessitates black organizations to adopt strategies reminiscent of the Jim Crow era, focusing on insulating communities and direct funding to students rather than through institutions.
Insights
1Systematic Attack on DEI and Minority Access in Higher Education
Over 45 universities are severing ties with organizations dedicated to supporting people of color, such as The PhD Project and The Links. This action is driven by political pressure from entities like the Trump administration and state governors (e.g., Greg Abbott in Texas), who are forcing institutions to dismantle DEI initiatives. The PhD Project, which facilitates minority PhD candidates, saw its university partnerships decline from over 200 to less than 100, resulting in substantial financial losses and reduced opportunities for diverse faculty and students.
Alfonso Alexander, President of The PhD Project, detailed the significant financial hit and reduced partnerships. Host Roland Martin cited Texas A&M and the University of Texas as examples of institutions making changes under political duress. The Washington Post reported on these cuts, including ties with The Links.
2Supreme Court Blocks Trump's Tariffs, Alleviating Economic Strain
The Supreme Court delivered a 6-3 decision ruling that most of Donald Trump's tariffs were unconstitutional, asserting that Congress holds the authority over such economic measures. This decision is a significant relief for American farmers and businesses that suffered severe economic consequences, including bankruptcies and suicides, due to Trump's 'schizophrenic' and politically motivated tariff policies.
John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association, stated, 'The president lost and I won, Roland. I won by six to three.' He highlighted how tariffs 'put America's farmers out of business, put us into bankruptcy, foreclosure.' Guests noted Trump's anger at the ruling and the broader negative economic impact of his policies, including a slowdown in GDP growth and job hiring.
3Republican Disregard for Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.'s Legacy
House Speaker Mike Johnson declined a request from Democrats to allow Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. to lie in honor at the U.S. Capitol Rotunda following his passing. This decision, framed by Republicans as adhering to stricter historical rules, is widely seen by panelists as a partisan slight and a disrespectful refusal to acknowledge Jackson's monumental contributions to civil rights and American history. This contrasts with previous honors for citizens like Rosa Parks and Billy Graham.
Host Roland Martin broke the news, citing a source on Capitol Hill. Panelist Wun Sean stated, 'It is a slap in the face to Jesse Jackson. It's a slap in the face to all of the things that he's accomplished over the years. It's a slap in the face to black America.'
4Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr.'s Enduring Impact on Political and Economic Empowerment
Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. is celebrated for his trailblazing presidential campaigns in 1984 and 1988, which significantly expanded political possibilities for African Americans and laid groundwork for future leaders like Barack Obama. Beyond politics, he championed economic justice through initiatives like Operation Breadbasket and Operation Push, notably organizing a successful economic boycott against Coca-Cola in 1981, which led to increased black representation in bottling distributorships and jobs. His legacy emphasizes the critical link between political power and economic leverage.
Michael Moep recounted Jackson's influence from childhood, including appearances on Sesame Street and 'A Different World,' and highlighted the 'most successful economic boycotts African-Americans have had since the Montgomery bus boycott' with Coca-Cola. Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes noted Jackson 'didn't just watch history being made. He made so much history.'
Lessons
- Organize and mobilize black voters at the precinct level, using voter data to target non-voters and address local pain points directly tied to elected officials.
- Support black-owned media and organizations like The PhD Project directly, bypassing institutions that are forced to cut ties due to political pressure, mirroring Jim Crow-era self-reliance strategies.
- Leverage consumer spending power and shareholder activism to demand economic equity from corporations, pushing for diverse boards, advertising, and procurement, as demonstrated by Reverend Jesse Jackson's Wall Street Project.
Black Voter Mobilization Strategy for Texas
Identify eligible black voters and past turnout rates by precinct across key counties (Harris, Dallas, Travis, Tarrant, East Texas).
Implement localized door-to-door canvassing and door hanger campaigns, focusing on areas with low turnout potential.
Connect specific ballot issues (e.g., constitutional amendments, local races) to voters' 'pain points' to demonstrate the direct impact of their vote.
Establish a statewide committee to share best practices and templates for voter engagement among D9 chapters and other black organizations.
Target local races, such as district attorneys and county judges, where black voter turnout can significantly impact outcomes against perceived 'racist' incumbents.
Quotes
"What we are seeing is a massive attack by Donald Trump and MAGA against efforts to recruit and retain African-Americans. So, what have I said they're trying to do by defunding black America? They're trying to cut off access to colleges and universities. They're trying to cut off access to contracts. They're cutting off access to grants and things along those lines."
"We had over 200 universities that partnered with us last year prior to the changes that the administration had put in place and now you know it's less than 100 that have partnered with us in that same capacity."
"The president lost and I won, Roland. I won by six to three. And I've talked on your show before about how the terrorists are illegal. Illegal. And for the first time, I think in my life, the Supreme Court really said, you know, John Boy is right on this one. The president's terrorists have put America's farmers out of business, put us into bankruptcy, foreclosure."
"The number one way that you address and dismember a black community is to start with their educational system. Roland, this is why they wouldn't let black people read back when we were enslaved peoples."
"It is a slap in the face to Jesse Jackson. It's a slap in the face to all of the things that he's accomplished over the years. It's a slap in the face to black America. But quite frankly, I think that's exactly what it's intended as."
"He didn't just watch history being made. He made so much history. As I said, from watching the Voting Rights Act getting signed into law to in fact standing there in Chicago as Barack Obama walked across the stage, having won the election for president in November of 2008."
"If you spend more than you make and vote less than you can, that's suicide. You must spend less to make than doing all that you can. That's a principle."
Q&A
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