Obama
by Nahlah Abdur-Rahman

April 6, 2025

Barack Obama Reveals His ‘Deep Deficit’ In Marriage With Michelle Obama

Obama got real about the making up he had to do in his marriage since leaving the White House.

Barack Obama shared more insight into his marriage with his wife, Michelle Obama, since the couple left the White House.

Obama talked about the state of his own union with the former first lady during a conversation with Hamilton College President Steven Tepper. At the April 3 event, Obama revealed his “deep deficit” in the marriage.

“I was in a deep deficit with my wife,” explained the former president, according to E! News. “…So I have been trying to dig myself out of that hole by doing occasionally fun things.”

The two have not shied away from discussing the impact Obama’s eight years in office had on their relationship. Since his presidency ended in 2017, the two have refocused on their marriage, which they have held since 1992.

Obama also detailed more about his dynamic with his wife and their two daughters, Malia, 26, and Sasha, 23. The acclaimed orator revealed that he is often on the losing end of family debates.

“First of all, I constantly lose arguments to my wife, my daughters,” the 63-year-old said. “They mock me and ridicule me at the dinner table.”

While the private family still makes time to poke fun at Dad, Obama’s admission to his attempts to reconnect comes amid divorce rumors about the longtime couple. Solo engagements by the former head of state sparked divorce rumors, particularly by conservative media outlets. One rumor even alleged an affair with “Friends” actress Jennifer Anniston.

However, the Obamas continue to present a strong, united front to the public, with Michelle touching on their daily lives. In her new IMO podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson, the 61-year-old explained her pet peeve regarding her husband’s time management skills.

“I got this husband who’s like, when it’s time to leave, it’s three o’clock. He’s getting up and going to the bathroom!” she detailed on the March 11 episode. “And I was like, ‘Dude, dude, three o’clock departure means you’ve done all that,’ you know? Don’t start looking for your glasses, you know, at the three o’clock departure.”

While the Obamas continue to cast a new spotlight for themselves, they remain committed to showcasing their love in their post-presidential era. The doting husband most recently gave his wife a Valentine’s Day shoutout.

“Thirty-two years together and you still take my breath away,” captioned Obama in the post. “Happy Valentine’s Day, @MichelleObama!”

RELATED CONTENT: Obama Presidential Library Unfazed By DOGE’s Lease Cancellation

government shutdown, senate, trump
by Daniel Johnson

April 6, 2025

Trump Endorsed Spending Bill Clears Senate After An All-Night Session

Although the Senate passed the bill, there is much that still needs to be hammered out concerning tax breaks and spending cuts in the coming weeks.

Senate Republicans have approved a Trump-backed spending bill in a 51-48 vote, largely along party lines. The bill emphasizes spending cuts and tax breaks and has been described by Trump as his “big, beautiful bill,” a key component of his economic agenda.

Although the Senate passed the bill during an all-night session, much still needs to be hammered out regarding tax breaks and spending cuts in the coming weeks.

Many Americans are bracing for a recession, as the stock market has plummeted and economists warn of a recession. Democrats objected to the spending bill, arguing that it appears to protect the rich by cutting safety net programs to give the rich more tax breaks.

According to The Associated Press, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) criticized Trump’s economic policies broadly, placing the blame directly onto the Republican Party, telling the AP, “Trump’s policies are a disaster.” Schumer went on to criticize Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency in the same manner. “Republicans could snuff it out tonight, if they wanted,” Schumer added.

The Republicans, like Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, framed the budget bill, which authorizes spending $175 billion on Trump’s mass deportation campaign and another $175 billion to build up the military, as their attempt to keep the mandate voters gave them. “It fulfills our promises to secure the border, to rebuild our economy and to restore peace through strength,” Barrasso told the AP.

On the Democratic side, Sen. Elizabeth Warren told the AP that although they did not have the votes to stop the Republican agenda or their budget, they could use the bill’s contents to expend their political capital to create outrage.

Warren’s comments recall the 24-hour speech by New Jersey Democrat Cory Booker, which served as a call to action for the Democratic Party to use every tool at its disposal to fight Trump’s agenda and policies.

“We may not have the votes to stop them all by ourselves,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) told the AP, “but we can use what the Republicans are trying to do with this tax bill to ignite a fire all across this country.”

According to The New York Times, although the bill did incite a fair amount of intra-party debate among Republican senators regarding Medicaid and Medicare, only two senators, Rand Paul (R-KY) and Susan Collins (R-ME), voted against the bill after both raised objections.

Though they could not stop the budget from being passed, the Democrats raised several objections through proposed amendments to the bill, a preview of attacks they will likely launch in opposition to how Republicans voted on those issues.

“Our amendments will give Republicans the chance to join us in hitting the kill switch on Donald Trump’s tariffs, on DOGE, on the attacks against Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid,” Sen. Schumer said on April 4 before the voting on the amendments started. “Will Republicans join us tonight and stand up to Donald Trump before he craters the economy?”

Based on how they voted during the amendment phase, not only are Republicans in the Senate supporting an inflated spending bill, but they also appear not to care about how much the rising costs created by Trump’s tariff plans will cost everyday Americans at the grocery store.

Schumer told The Washington Post on April 3 that the Democratic Party planned to unmask the Republican Party for the villains they are by using the political processes available to them.

“They’re mean, they’re nasty, they’re uncaring. We, tonight and tomorrow, are going to show just who they are,” Schumer said.

RELATED CONTENT: Americans Are Spending Less and Budgeting Due To Economic Uncertainty

Black enterprise musum, Reginald F. Lewis, Baltimore, 1987
by Kandiss Edwards

April 6, 2025

Baltimore’s Reginald F. Lewis Museum Celebrates 20 Years With New Exhibit

The Maryland Museum will honor the life and legacy of its namesake Reginald F. Lewis.

Baltimore’s Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture celebrates 20 years of preserving and promoting Black history. 

The centerpiece of the anniversary is the newly opened exhibit, “TITAN: The Legacy of Reginald F. Lewis,” which will run through April 2026. The exhibit honors the life and legacy of the museum’s namesake, Reginald F. Lewis — a pioneering businessman, entrepreneur, and proud member of the Divine Nine.

As part of the celebration, the museum will showcase personal items and memorabilia belonging to Lewis, who made history in the 1980s as the first Black American to close an overseas billion-dollar leveraged buyout deal with his company, TLC Beatrice International Holdings.

According to the museum, “TITAN unveils the lesser-known facets of Lewis’ life, chronicling his rise from a hardworking student to a global business leader whose impact extended far beyond boardrooms. Through personal artifacts, rare photographs, and intimate narratives, visitors will gain insight into the values that shaped his character, the obstacles he overcame with resilience and strategy, and the revolutionary spirit that guided his remarkable journey.”

The exhibit highlights Lewis’s 1987 featured cover on BLACK ENTERPRISE. The issue, titled “How Reginald Lewis Cut the $985 Million Beatrice Deal,” digs into the businessman’s successful and groundbreaking deal. 

Black enterprise cover, Titan, Reginald F. Lewis, Baltimore, 1987
Image BE Archives

While “TITAN” anchors the 20th anniversary celebration, the museum continues to highlight other important facets of Black history. One of its featured exhibits, “iWITNESS: Media & the Movement,” explores the role of media in shaping the national conversation around Black American experiences.

The exhibit highlights the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and honors the formats—Television, Photography, and the Press—that told the stories of Black Americans and their plight. 

To mark the Reginald F. Lewis Museum’s milestone, the museum will host a gala on May 8, from 6:30 to 11 p.m. at the M&T Bank Exchange in Baltimore.

RELATED CONTENT: Director Of The National Museum Of African American History And Culture Is Placed On ‘Indefinite Leave’

Maryland, reparations
by Kandiss Edwards

April 6, 2025

Maryland Reparations Bill Head To Gov. Wes Moore For Approval

Maryland residents may receive reparations if this bill is approved by Gov. Wes Moore.

The Legislative Black Caucus of Maryland has passed a landmark bill that would provide reparations to individuals impacted by slavery and racial discrimination. The legislation, Senate Bill 587, now heads to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for final consideration.

The bill passed the Maryland House of Delegates with a 101-36 vote. It defines eligible recipients as individuals whose ancestors were enslaved in the state or affected by inequitable policies.

SB 587 was filed alongside House Bill 1422, which authorizes the Maryland Reparations Commission to study the long-term effects of racial discrimination within the state. Together, the bills represent a coordinated effort to address systemic injustice.

Del. Aletheia McCaskill emphasized that reparations would come in multiple forms beyond financial payments. 

The commission will “explore strategies to support and uplift vulnerable communities that continue to suffer the lingering and evasive effects of discriminatory practices rooted in systemic racism,” she said during a caucus meeting in Baltimore.

The reparations package could include formal apologies, monetary compensation, property tax rebates, social service assistance, licensing and permit fee waivers or reimbursements, and help with housing down payments. Additional support may include business incentives, childcare, debt forgiveness, and tuition waivers for higher education.

Sens. C. Anthony Muse, Malcolm Augustine, Benjamin Brooks, and Mary Washington sponsor the bills. Senate Bill 587 now heads to Gov. Wes Moore’s desk for final consideration.

Maryland residents are not the only Black Americans seeking reparations. The Associated Press reported on the quest of Tulsa Massacre victims to receive compensation for the atrocities inflicted on them during the 1921 incident.

Mayor Monroe Nichols has expressed support for “significant elements” of a comprehensive plan to address the lasting impacts of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. The proposed plan, known as the Greenwood Project, includes financial compensation for the two known living survivors, a scholarship program, and the establishment of June 1 as an official city holiday to commemorate the massacre.

This renewed focus on reparations comes after the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s 2024 dismissal of a lawsuit filed by survivors Viola Fletcher, now 110, and Lessie Benningfield Randle, 109, which sought reparations for the destruction of the prosperous Black neighborhood known as “Black Wall Street.” The court ruled that the grievances, while legitimate, did not fall within the scope of the state’s public nuisance laws.

RELATED CONTENT: Justice Department Finds 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre ‘Coordinated, Systematic Attack‘

David E. Talbert , Memoir, Penguin Random House Imprint
by Daniel Johnson

April 6, 2025

David E. Talbert Sells Memoir To Penguin Random House Imprint For Six Figures

Talbert's memoir came out of conversations he has had with his own son.

Director, writer, playwright, and producer David E. Talbert has sold his memoir “Everything I Know About Being a Man (I Learned From a Woman)” for six figures to Storehouse Voices, a Penguin Random House Publishing Imprint. He is also developing a television show with the same title.

According to Deadline, Talbert’s memoir emerged from conversations he had with his son, which caused him to realize that his mother, a single mother, imparted to him all of the lessons he has learned about being a man.

According to its website, Storehouse Voices is focused on “promoting the richness of Black storytelling through intentional acquisitions and hiring efforts, strategic partnerships, and authentic, equity-minded community outreach,” which it accomplishes by issuing nonfiction and fiction books.

According to People Magazine, Storehouse Voices was launched in January 2025, created in partnership with Tamira Chapman, out of the success of Chapman’s Women & Words program, which was launched with support from Storehouse In A Box and Penguin Random House, which aimed to “demystify the publishing industry and its processes” for underrepresented authors.

A statement announcing the imprint reads, “Storehouse Voices is informed by a deep understanding of the unique cultural and historical contexts of the Black experience in America and committed to ensuring that literary works by underrepresented authors are presented authentically, respectfully and powerfully across the publishing and media landscape.”

This dovetails with the general arc of Talbert’s career, which, like Tyler Perry, began with stage plays aimed at telling Black stories to Black audiences.

In 2024, in an interview with Blex Media, the multihyphenate shared that “Jingle Jangle,” the 2020 Christmas movie he wrote and directed, which starred Forest Whitaker and Keegan Michael Key, was created because of his childhood experience of feeling excluded from the fantasy genre because he didn’t often see Black children represented in the media of his youth.

According to Deadline, in 2023, Talbert launched HBCU Next, a fellowship program that he founded and funded alongside his wife and production partner, Lyn Sisson-Talbert, to enrich the educational opportunities available to aspiring filmmakers at HBCUs by bringing them to USC’s School of Cinematic Arts Summer Program.

As Talbert told Deadline regarding the program, “Our overall objective is to foster an environment for students from HBCUs and USC to engage in cultural exchange learning from one another’s experiences and backgrounds, and to provide access to an education conducive to giving Black storytellers a pipeline to the entertainment industry.”

RELATED CONTENT: David E. Talbert ‘Next Fellowship’ Will Send HBCU Students To USC School Of Cinematic Arts

Millennium Tour, 404 Day
by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

April 5, 2025

The Millennium Tour Closes Out 404 Day The Right Way

The Atlanta stops on the Millennium Tour went off without a hitch and gave the audience a few surprises.

The Millennium Tour made its Atlanta stop on a day that already had the city buzzing. April 4, known locally as 404 Day, honors Atlanta’s iconic area code and celebrates the majority-Black city’s culture, community, and creativity.

As the sun set, the celebration didn’t stop—it simply moved indoors. The Millennium Tour powered by the Black Promoter’s Collective—known for production of Jazz in the Gardens, Frankie Beverly’s Farewell Tour and New Edition’s Legacy Tour—took over State Farm Arena, letting Atlanta natives and transplants alike close out the day by singing along to some of the biggest stars of the 2010s. 

The lineup featured Trey Songz, Omarion, Bow Wow, Plies, Boosie BadAzz, Ying Yang Twins, RSVP (Ray J, Sammie, Bobby V, Pleasure P), Nivea, and special guest Rick Ross. BLACK ENTERPRISE was in the building to see a few of the night’s standout performances.

Bow Wow

Headliner Bow Wow celebrated a major milestone in Atlanta, marking his ninth sold-out show at State Farm Arena during the Millennium Tour 2025. “The dog is home,” he wrote, rallying fans with hometown pride on 404 Day.

https://twitter.com/smoss/status/1908169236289061314

Omarion And Kids

The former B2K member delivered a heartfelt moment in Atlanta, inviting his children on stage during the Millennium Tour 2025. The family appearance added a personal touch to a night full of nostalgia and energy.

https://twitter.com/KenyaTST/status/1908368200586109059

Nivea Put On For The Ladies

Fans raved about the Millennium Tour 2025 stop in Atlanta, with one calling it ‘everything.’ The high-energy performances and surprise moments turned the night into a standout stop on the tour. Nivea, singer of “Don’t Mess With My Man,” put on for the ladies on the male-centric tour.

Lil Boosie BadAzz

Lil Boosie lit up the stage in Atlanta with crowd-favorite anthems “Wipe Me Down” and “Independent,” sparking high-energy dancing and throwback vibes as fans popped, dropped, and moved to the beat.

https://twitter.com/4EverThad/status/1908577412381540516

Plies Serenades Audience

Another Florida artist and beloved internet figure, Plies, ignited the crowd when “Bust It Baby” and “Shorty” hit the speakers. Plies also serenaded the crowd with a few hits from a hometown hero, Usher, before transitioning to a surprise appearance by Keith Sweat. The R&B elder statesman graced the stage, serenading the audience with his hit Make It Last Forever. Sweats’ timeless vocals and stage presence captivated the young and the old alike.

https://twitter.com/plies/status/1908537907603710011

From Rick Ross and Plies to Omarion and Bow Wow, the evening was drenched in nostalgia, Southern swagger, and a deep love for the city that helped shape the sound of a generation.

The Millennium Tour’s final show will be on April 27 at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California. 

RELATED CONTENT: Rick Ross And Dr. Mario Montoya Are All ‘Smiles’ After Opening Cosmetic Dentistry Business

Onijah Robinson, 'The Pakistan Princess,' New York
by Kandiss Edwards

April 5, 2025

Social Media Sensation Onijah Robinson, ‘The Pakistan Princess,’ Is Back In New York

Onijah Robinson set the record straight she was not detained in Dubai.

Onijah Robinson returned to the United States after a headline-making journey that took her from Pakistan to Dubai and eventually led her to viral fame.

The 33-year-old Brooklyn native first gained attention in late 2024 after traveling to Pakistan to pursue a marriage arrangement with a 19-year-old man she had met online. In a recent street interview in New York, she confirmed she had been in the UAE for nearly a month.

“I didn’t go to jail. I was just stuck in Dubai,” Robinson said. “There was a situation that happened in Dubai that I couldn’t get over at the time, and that was it.”

While she didn’t elaborate on the “situation,” online speculation pointed to possible visa or customs complications. Robinson didn’t explain but insisted she was never arrested.

Despite the rocky journey, she says she is “glad and happy” to be back on U.S. soil. She also shares that she is now married. Though she did not name her husband or clarify when the wedding took place, the revelation comes full circle after her original trip abroad was sparked by romance.

When Robinson’s Pakistani saga began, she had hoped to find a husband. Those plans quickly unraveled after the young man’s family rejected the idea. But instead of returning home, Robinson decided to stay.

Over the next several weeks, videos of Robinson surfaced, in which she declared herself a “citizen of Pakistan” and became an outspoken presence online. The self-appointed “citizen of Pakistan” often commented on the country’s politics and culture. Social media users also dubbed her “The Pakistan Princess.”

Her bold statements and refusal to leave made her a local curiosity and a viral figure. Robinson’s visa expired, and she relied on the hospitality of strangers. At one point, she lived in a local neighborhood and received support from Pakistani social media users who were drawn to her passion and defiance.

Her situation eventually drew the attention of Pakistani authorities. While there were no formal reports of legal action, social media buzzed with speculation about whether she was overstaying her visa. Tensions rose when her social accounts briefly went dark, sparking concern among followers about her safety and whereabouts.

The street interview will now put concerned and curious social media users at ease.

RELATED CONTENT: Restaurateur Nakia Holmes Says Marriage To ‘Narcissist’ Destroyed The Turkey Leg Hut Legacy

Al Sharpton, protest
by Daniel Johnson

April 5, 2025

Al Sharpton Calls Out PepsiCo Over Diversity Changes, Threatens To Boycott

Sharpton claims PepsiCo has betrayed its guiding principles because of politics.

Rev. Al Sharpton called out PepsiCo in a letter to PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta over the company’s decision to back away from its previous commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion. He indicated that he was giving the company three weeks to meet with him, or a boycott would target the soft drink company in response to its changed position regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

According to The Associated Press, Sharpton’s letter sets forth his belief that the company has betrayed guiding principles because of political pressure. “You have walked away from equity,” Sharpton wrote before emphasizing that the company’s choice to remove DEI hiring and retention goals and to dismantle community partnerships with minority organizations “are clear signals that political pressure has outweighed principle.”

Sharpton also alluded to PepsiCo’s history. In the 1940s and 1950s, the company was among the first to hire Black sales and marketing executives in corporate America, resulting in Black Americans’ support for the company. “You did this not because it was easy — but because it was right,” Sharpton wrote. “That legacy is now in jeopardy.”

According to the New Pittsburgh Courier, due to their different approaches, Pepsi and Coca-Cola were largely seen in Americans’ imaginations of “Black” and “White” drinks, respectively, in the days before inclusive marketing strategies.

These days, however, the roles have flipped; once described as a product marketed exclusively to white people, Coca-Cola reaffirmed its support for diversity, equity, and inclusion in February, while PepsiCo appeared to backtrack on its support of those initiatives.

Coca-Cola indicated in its annual report that it believed eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion would ultimately harm its bottom line.

“Failure to maintain a corporate culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and inclusion … could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our business and our future success,” Coca-Cola said.

PepsiCo appears to be taking the approach favored by Walmart and Target, who have also faced backlash and boycotts over abandoning their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives while continuing to use Black models in their advertising campaigns.

According to a press release, Sharpton and his National Action Network are set to announce on April 5 the first company to be boycotted in accordance with his vow to review and identify companies that have abandoned commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

“As Donald Trump returned to office on King Day, vowing to attack the very things Dr. King fought for, NAN made a promise across Washington to use our buying power to fight back,” said Sharpton, founder and president of NAN. “On Saturday, we will send a message to those who abandoned us that we will abandon them. As we make this stand against those who abandoned DEI, NAN will continue to support the companies that stand by the policy.”

Trump’s war on DEI has had the effect of making companies, government agencies, and universities reevaluate or end various policies or programs aimed at increasing diversity and decreasing discrimination against women, LGBTQ+ individuals, Black people, and other protected groups.

In addition to Trump’s pressure, some companies, like PepsiCo, have appeared to buckle after attacks from conservative activists like Robby Starbuck, who Forbes reports alleged on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had contacted the soft drink company about “doing a story about their woke policies.”

Although it is unknown if Starbuck’s inquiry is related to Pepsi’s changed policy, most likely, it is due to the soft drink company’s status as a government contractor, which has not stopped him from taking credit.

Starbuck also taunted Sharpton on the social media platform and called for the activist to debate him on DEI.

“If you think you’re sharp enough to debate this, then let’s debate DEI publicly without edits. Surely you’ll make incredible arguments and defeat my ideas for all to see. Or maybe you’ll cower and avoid the debate because you know that I’ll mop the floor with you and the horrific, partisan and racist policies known as DEI,” Starbuck wrote.

RELATED CONTENT: Rev. Al Sharpton Puts The Call Out To Boycott Companies Eliminating DEI Initiatives In Honor Of Dr. King’s Legacy

Saint Augustine's Black Woman, Board
by Mitti Hicks

April 5, 2025

Saint Augustine’s University Sued For More Than $18M

Last month, it lost its accreditation for failure to prove financial stability and proper oversight.

Two companies have filed lawsuits against Saint Augustine’s University over unpaid bills, according to WRAL News. 

The lawsuits, filed two weeks apart for more than $18 million, come amid a turbulent time for the university. Last month, it lost its accreditation with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) for failure to prove financial stability and proper oversight. In late 2022, the commission placed the university on probation after it failed to meet accreditation standards due to significant financial issues, including $32 million in debts and nearly $10 million in IRS tax liens.

SBA, a wireless company, says the university defaulted on an agreement only after a year of starting a business together. The company wants the university to pay the early termination fee of nearly $17 million plus interest.

The SBA’s lawsuit also prompted the IT company Avaria to take legal action against Saint Augustine’s University. Avaria’s lawsuit alleges the university paid some but not all of its bills dating back to 2020. The IT company alleges Saint Augustine’s owes $448,067.33 in late bills and $884,520 for the remainder of its contract.

Byron Saintsing, the lawyer representing Avaria, says the company still provides services to the university despite the lawsuit.

“It’s a tough line, particularly when you’re trying to be supportive of the university, where you draw that line between being supportive and continuing to offer services versus protecting your own pocketbook,” Saintsing told WRAL News. “In our particular case, the services that are being provided are pretty crucial to the university. It’s basically a lot of the IT infrastructure. If they were to pull the plug on that, it would make a very bad situation even worse.”

Two years after being placed on probation, the school received financial backing from 50 Plus 1 Sports, a Black-owned development company. As BLACK ENTERPRISE previously reported, 50 Plus 1 Sports was willing to invest $70 million into the university, allowing it to be self-sufficient while keeping its land. The agreement prioritized eliminating debt and investing in campus improvements, all while ensuring that the university would become financially stable.

The commission, however, rejected the deal.

In the meantime, the university is fighting for its future and calling on alumni, corporate partners, and the broader HBCU community for support.

BE contacted Saint Augustine’s University for comment but has not heard back.

RECENT CONTENT: HBCU Saint Augustine’s University Loses Accreditation Appeal

Trump, dei, public schools, NY
by Daniel Johnson

April 5, 2025

New York Defies Trump’s Order To Eliminate DEI Programs In Public Schools​

A New York State Education Department official accused Trump of trying to 'censor anything it deems diversity, equity, and inclusion.’

On April 4, the New York State Education Department pushed back forcefully against the Trump administration’s escalating threats to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs—marking the clearest stance yet, even as institutions like Columbia University appear ready to compromise in exchange for federal funding.

According to The New York Times, Daniel Morton-Bentley, deputy commissioner for legal affairs at the New York State Education Department, accused the Trump administration in a letter to federal education officials of trying to “censor anything it deems diversity, equity & inclusion.”

Morton-Bentley continued, “But there are no federal or state laws prohibiting the principles of DEI,” indicating in the letter that the federal government has failed to clarify which practices of DEI run afoul of civil rights protections.

His letter, sent one day after the administration sent its own letter requesting that education officials from across the country confirm the elimination of DEI, marks the most public and forceful resistance to the Trump administration’s demands.

New York State will likely be joined in its defiance by the city of Chicago, whose mayor, Brandon Johnson, indicated to the Chicago Tribune that the city would take the administration to court if it tried to pull funding.

“We’re not going to be intimidated by these threats,” Johnson told the outlet. “It’s just that simple. So whatever it is that this tyrant is trying to do to this city, we’re going to fight back.”

Public school systems, unlike universities, are not beholden to federal funding and thus have some leeway because the majority of their funding comes from state and local taxes.

According to a March report from The Guardian, the continued pressure on American universities to bow to the federal government’s desires so they can continue receiving federal funding has drawn criticism.

Jameel Jaffer, the executive director of the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, told the outlet that this kind of pressure is more than likely illegal and hinted at a crisis to come in higher education.

“They can’t require Columbia to take the steps that they’re demanding Columbia take, and no university could take these kinds of steps without completely destroying its credibility as an independent institution of higher education, or take these steps consistent with the values that are common to universities in the United States,” Jaffer told the outlet.

Morton-Bentley, however, seemed acutely aware that the federal government’s argument, which is largely based on an expanded reading of the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision that race-based affirmative action is unlawful at colleges and universities, did not extend to public schools based on his fiery response to the federal government.

According to Morton-Bentley’s letter, the court case does “not have the totemic significance that you have assigned it.” He cautioned federal officials that although they could absolutely make policy pronouncements, they could not, however, “conflate policy with law.”

Morton-Bentley also assailed the federal government’s shift in tone and tenor in his letter by contrasting the current administration’s position to the position of the first Trump administration in 2016.

“This is an abrupt shift,” Morton-Bentley wrote, before pointing out that the federal government had “provided no explanation for how and why it changed positions,” and furthermore, he indicated that the New York State Education Department would not be complying with the administration’s demand to certify compliance with the letter, writing in his own correspondence that “No further certification will be forthcoming.”

RELATED CONTENT: Colleges Cut Ties With The PhD Project, Which Boosts Black Representation In Business, Amid Pressure From Trump

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