The NAACP is urging top athletes to attend HBCUs as part of their new boycott. The organization recently announced a campaign entitled “Out of Bounds”, which calls for Black athletes and their families, as well as other community members, to withhold financial and structural support from public universities in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 6-to-3 ruling in the Louisiana v. Callais case.
NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson released a statement on the campaign’s rationale.
“What these states have done is not a policy disagreement. It is a sprint to erase Black political power, These actions happened in days, in some cases in hours, of a Supreme Court ruling that gives extremist lawmakers a playbook to erode Black representation. The NAACP will not watch the same institutions that depend on Black athletic prowess to fill their stadiums and their bank accounts remain silent while their states strip Black communities of their voice. Out of Bounds is our answer: we are naming the contradiction, and we are calling on Black athletes, families, fans, and consumers to act on it. The same power that built these programs can be redirected. And it will be.”
The organization has launched a website that goes more in-depth about the campaign and lists institutions they urge top athletes not to attend and sports fans not to financially support.
The site also has a tab called “Redirect: HBCUs,” listing several HBCUs across southern states that would be considered worth supporting. The website lists each public HBCUs in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
“Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), continue to be a safe space for Black talent, education, and culture. When considering where to commit your talent or your financial support, keep HBCUs at the top of your list,” the statement from the website read.
The NAACP is urging top athletes to attend HBCUs as part of their new boycott. The organization recently announced a campaign entitled “Out of Bounds”, which calls for Black athletes and their families, as well as other community members, to withhold financial and structural support from public universities in the wake of the Supreme Court’s 6-to-3 ruling in the Louisiana v.
