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President Donald Trump has set a strict deadline for schools and universities to revise their DEI policies. AP News reports the Education Departmen t has stated “racial preferences” can no longer be applicable in admissions, financial aid, or hiring. Beginning in 14 days, “educational institutions may neither separate nor segregate students based on race, nor distribute benefits or burdens based on race,” the memo read. “The last thing students need when making plans about how to pay for college is uncertainty over when or whether they will receive financial aid they’ve been relying on,” The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators said in a statement. The mandate was listed in a memo released on Friday, Feb. 14, which was a continuation of Trump’s executive order to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). This included placing federal employees in DEI roles on paid leave per the administration’s agenda to “take steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives,...
Travis Scott has launched a new program that will fuel the design and creativity of students. In 2020, the rapper and songwriter extended his impact in his hometown of Houston, TX, by launching the Cactus Jack Foundation in November 2020, providing the next generation with educational and creative resources, Variety notes. One year after its inception, the foundation launched the 60,000-square-foot Cact.us Design Center at TXRX Labs, serving at-risk middle and high school students. It offers training, mentorship, and exposure to career paths in graphic design, fashion, and music, according to information shared with AFROTECH™. The foundation also provides $10,000 scholarships to college students in partnership with the Fashion Scholarship Fund through the Design Ethos Program. It has awarded scholarships to two cohorts since 2024. Recipients include: Gerald Baano-Stewart II (Morehouse College, 2024) Amanda Kerr (Savannah College of Art and Design, 2024) Satchel Smith (Thomas...
Meta is being sued for allegedly directly contributing to education inequities in Black communities. A lawsuit filed by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, and Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel LLP on behalf of the Equal Rights Center (ERC) cites that Meta’s algorithm has shown bias by directing ads for for-profit colleges and universities to Black communities. In contrast, more ads featuring public and nonprofit colleges and universities were shown to white users. “Relegating Black students to receive information about for-profit schools, which often provide lower quality education at greater financial cost, also sends a negative message about who belongs in which types of institutions,” a statement from an email sent to AFROTECH™ by the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights read. The difference between the two types of institutions is that for-profit colleges focus on generating profits...
The iconic words from Big Sean, “Last night took an L, but tonight I bounce back,” could easily be the anthem for Jalen Hurts’ collegiate journey. His story isn’t just about wins and stats; it’s about resilience, growth, and the kind of determination that doesn’t flinch in the face of adversity. From being benched on the biggest stage in college football to becoming one of the NFL’s brightest stars, Hurts’ path proves that setbacks are just setups for comebacks. Jalen Hurts’Hometown Roots Born and raised in Houston, TX, Hurts grew up with football in his DNA. According to ABC 13, at Channelview High School, he played under the watchful eye of his father, Averion Hurts, who was also the team’s head coach. It was there that Hurts started turning heads with his dual-threat capabilities, proving he could hurt defenses both through the air and on the ground. His high school career was impressive enough to attract offers from top college programs nationwide. Alabama: Early Glory, Tough...
Educator Yaa Yaa Catherine Whaley-Williams has built an education hub in her community. Whaley-Williams, the director of student equity in the Monticello Central School District in Monticello, NY, is the founder of Sadie’s Books and Beverages. The business opened in 2022 and made history in the process. News-12 reports it is the first Black-owned bookstore in Orange County, NY. Sadie’s Books and Beverages offers a diverse selection of books, which includes hundreds of Black authors across 23 genres, according to the Times Herald-Record reports. Accessibility is also important to Whaley-Williams, so she launched a program that slashes the prices of new books for children to $3 and $7. “When I was a kid getting a free or discounted book, it was usually dog-eared or had writing in it, or some pages missing,” she explained to the outlet. “But getting a discounted book shouldn’t mean that it’s anything less than brand new.” Locals can also expect special activations from the local shop...
The Trump administration is reportedly looking to dismantle the Department of Education. According to CNN, sources close to the matter stated an executive order is in the works. President Donald Trump’s intentions were present in Project 2025, which is a list of proposals across 900 pages that imposes a conservative agenda, BBC mentions. It was created by the Heritage Foundation, a right-wing think tank, and is supported by more than 100 organizations with a mission “to take down the Deep State and return the government to the people” through policy, personnel, and training, its website notes. Within the lengthy proposal, it states the closing of the Department of Education. NPR reports Betsy DeVos suggested during Trump’s first term, while she served as the Secretary of Education, that the department should reinvest money benefiting lower income students through the Title I program and instead allocate it towards grants proposed in Project 2025. This signals that the closure of the...
Some facts about Black History Month have been well-established: Carter G. Woodson was a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. His frat created Negro History and Literature Week in 1924. Woodson sent out a press release to announce the first Negro History Week. He chose February to honor another historical legend, a formerly-enslaved-man-turned-activist Frederick Douglass, who had chosen February 14 as his birthday without knowing his real birthdate. Negro History Week was also chosen to honor former President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday on February 12. And on its 50th anniversary, in 1976, younger members of the Association for the Study of African American History extended Negro History Week to Black History Month. While all of these facts are inarguable, there’s one point that remains vague: What exactly are you supposed to do during Black History Month? Like Juneteenth , there were never any established rules. For employees who want to honor this month, are there tips for how to...
Allen Brooks, at 60 years old, has honored a commitment he made to his late mother. “Good Morning America” reports Brooks is now a college graduate, having earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with a concentration in business management from Alabama A&M University. In December 2024, his family applauded his accomplishment and were brought to tears in a TikTok video, viewed at least 50 million times, on the day of his graduation. @_brionnaofficial My Dad did his BIG ONE!!!! 1st Generation Grad( of 4 gens) Although his reason was for his mom (who passed while finishing his LAST CLASS😩😭 . my cuz @Ieshia Young made these tear dropping signs to represent her ! I mean me and my aunts were TORE UPPPP!!!! Im so proud of my Daddy!!! He is the epitome of walking in YOUR purpose and not FOR SOCIETY! He has shown me once again its NEVER too late to finish and for that and so much more i LOVE YOU & THANK YOU!🥳 ♬ Oscar Winning Tears. – RAYE Brooks admits the journey had been “tough”...
Welcome to HillmanTok University, where everyone is accepted, and TikTok is your classroom. Thousands of professors have taken their talents to TikTok, documenting their course offerings and allowing students, or users, outside the typical classroom setting to participate in the curriculum. The trend, known as “HillmanTok,” started with Dr. Barlow, an African American Studies professor, who utilized the social media platform to engage with her actual students. As her videos gained more traction, other minority professors followed suit. Now, teachers worldwide are helping students merge their love for TikTok with their desire to learn. TikToker @djneurospicy explained that the outpouring of support for Barlow’s efforts follows the decision of 92% of Black women who voted for Kamala Harris in the Nov. 4, 2025, election to not focus on Donald Trump’s second presidency. “Here’s how it goes: Trump becomes president, the 92% say they are minding their own business,” the TikToker said....
Staff members at Harvard University leading its Slavery Remembrance Program have lost their jobs. The program, supported through a $100 million Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery initiative, helps find descendants of those enslaved by Harvard University’s leadership, faculty, or staff, note the Boston Globe and the Harvard Crimson. Recently, the program, which includes HSRP Director Richard J. Cellini and research fellow Wayne W. Tucker, discovered “several hundred people” who had been enslaved between 1660 and 1815 and shared their findings with the prime minister and governor-general of Antigua and Barbuda in hopes of gaining further insight into these areas. Just one week after the outreach, the program staff were laid off on Thursday, Jan. 23. Four months earlier, Cellini had claimed Vice Provost for Special Projects Sara N. Bleich warned the program “not to find too many descendants.” The program’s findings have revealed over 300 enslaved people were enslaved by the school’s...
Rutgers University has canceled its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) conference following changes in the White House administration. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, President Donald Trump placed federal employees in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles on paid leave that went into effect immediately and “no later than 5:00pm EST” on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. This followed Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20 as “the agency takes steps to close/end all DEIA initiatives, offices and programs,” CNN reported . Now Rutgers University, a predominantly white institution, has stated they have been asked to “cease all work under the auspices of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility HUB at Jobs for the Future, which the U.S. Department of Labor funds,” NorthJersey.com reports. This was confirmed by the school’s spokesperson, who stated it “was canceled at the direction of the U.S. Department of Labor, which ceased all work that it funds through the Jobs for the...
Shaquille O’Neal is many things, and that also includes doctor! The former NBA star did not neglect his education journey despite going on to earn millions throughout his career. He attended Louisiana State University but did not initially complete his degree when he was drafted as the first overall pick in 1992 by the Orlando Magic. Spotrac reports he secured a four-year rookie contract valued at $17.4 million. O’Neal, who also is passionate about music, went on to secure a $10 million deal to release three albums under Jive Records. This led to collaborations with some music greats. “I was like ‘I got to take it,’ but then reality kicked in,” O’Neal shared on “Check-In at Wynn” in Las Vegas, NV. “I was like ‘I’m not a rapper’ and then I said ‘Let’s have a meeting’… I said as long as I can rap with all my favorite rappers, I’ll do it and they agreed. So, I think for a non-rapper, I probably have the best discography ever. Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Snoop, Ice Cube, Notorious...
Taraji P. Henson feels indebted to fellow actresses Phylicia Rashad And Debbie Allen. The sister duo, Rashad and Allen, are graduates of the illustrious Howard University and have gone on to be revered in the entertainment industry. Rashad most recognized for her role as Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show” while Allen’s resume includes acting credits and producing staple shows such as “A Different World,” “Scandal,” and “Empire.” The duo had a large influence on Henson, not only for their influence but also for sewing seeds into her acting dreams. Henson attended Howard University in the 1990s and faced challenges during her junior year while pregnant. “I really ran out of money . I didn’t know how I was going to finish, but I knew I was going to finish,” Henson said during an interview on the show, “Today with Jenna & Friends.” Her saving grace would come from the Dr. Andrew Allen Sr. Memorial Scholarship, established by Rashad and Allen in honor of their father, who also graduated...
DEI terms are being removed from some public colleges. According to a landing page from The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17, titled “Responsibility of Governing Boards Regarding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives,” on June 14, 2023. The bill restricts diversity, equity, and inclusion offices, as well as the programs, activities, and trainings across public institutions of higher education. It went into effect in January 2024. “DEI programs have been shown to be exclusive, they have been shown to be ineffective and they have shown to be politically charged,” Sen. Brandon Creighton, R-Conroe, the ban’s author, stated on the Senate floor, according to The Texas Tribune in February 2024. “Many of these programs have been weaponized to compel speech instead of protecting free speech.” An internal memo shared in November 2024 by TikTok user momuniversity, who was a UT Austin educator at the time, provided updated...
FICO is partnering with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) to educate the next generation of data scientists. According to a news release, the global analytic software company is bringing back its FICO® Educational Analytics Challenge for the second year. This will give students the opportunity to engage with real-world challenges in artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics, inspiring them to develop innovative solutions. This year’s challenge will center on empowering students to combat payment transaction fraud by tasking them with developing a robust fraud detection model. Students will be supported by Dr. Scott Zoldi, chief analytics officer at FICO, and his team of data scientists, who will also teach and mentor participants. Additionally, they will be given financial assistance and resources for internship opportunities. The FICO® Educational Analytics Challenge will expand to the following educational institutions in Spring 2025: F. Drake State Community...