Derrick Johnson, NAACP President, recently called upon Black athletes to boycott public colleges in Florida due to the recent anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) bill that was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

SB 266 was passed in 2023 and stated that Florida schools, colleges, and universities could no longer spend state or federal funds on any programs that “advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, or promote or engage in political or social activism.”

The University of Florida recently eliminated its DEI programs and cut all employee positions. The University of Florida has had some of the best college athletes in the country. Emmitt Smith, Al Horford, Trinity Thomas, Grant Holloway, and so many other greats competed for the Gators. Former NFL star Emmitt Smith came out with a strong stance against the University's decision:

There are plenty of other Florida colleges that have a massive athletic following. The University of Miami, Florida State University, University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University, University of West Florida, and so many more public colleges in Florida could soon follow the Gators' path. 

Florida International University and the University of North Florida have already cut DEI programs.

According to NBC News, NAACP President Derrick Johnson addressed current and future Black NCAA athletes through a letter saying, “Diversity, equity, and inclusion are paramount to ensuring equitable and effective educational outcomes. The value Black and other college athletes bring to large universities is unmatched. If these institutions are unable to completely invest in those athletes, it's time they take their talents elsewhere.”

Sports are huge in Florida. They are also huge money-makers. The University of Florida generated over $111 million in revenue in the 2022-2023 year alone. Should Black athletes listen to Johnson and boycott Florida's predominantly white institutions (PWIs), those schools could lose a huge chunk of change. 

Johnson did, however, point out that boycotting is not an option for everyone, “The sad reality is, for many Black student-athletes, collegiate sports may be their sole opportunity at achieving the upward mobility necessary to propel them into their rightful places in society.”

We could see large numbers of current athletes entering the Transfer Portal to leave Florida, as well as prospective Black student-athletes staying away from doing any recruiting in the state of Florida. Losing out on big-time recruits could make a huge dent in the school's earning potential. 

Image Credit: Pablo Corredor

* Originally published on March 18, 2024, by Bella Nevin