A Florida A&M University College of Law student alleged that school officials ordered her to scrub the word “Black” from Black History Month materials, citing state anti-DEI laws, only for university leaders to call it a misguided staff mistake.
Aaliyah Steward, a FAMU law student, told an Orlando TV station that she was directed to abbreviate “Black” in a Black History Month flyer and avoid terms like “women” to comply with Florida legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and backed by the State Board of Governors.
“We couldn’t use the word ‘Black’… I was very angry and baffled because this is a Historically Black College and University,” Steward said, describing the directive as “kind of insane.”
FAMU quickly pushed back, labeling the incident a “staff-level error” that exceeded legal requirements.
President Marva Johnson, J.D., issued a statement affirming the school’s commitment as Florida’s only public HBCU: “The University unequivocally confirms that the use of the word ‘Black,’ or the phrase ‘Black History Month,’ does not violate… Florida Senate Bill 266,” she wrote, noting ongoing celebrations including a new exhibition at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives and the annual Harambee Festival on Feb. 28.
Interim Dean Cecil Howard echoed the clarification in a campus-wide message, meeting with affected students and consulting a higher education law expert who ruled the words permissible.
“What occurred was a staff-level error… It has been corrected, and I take full responsibility,” Howard stated, announcing new review protocols, including his personal oversight of promotional materials and alignment with main campus standards.
FAMU emphasized protections for student groups like the Black Law Students Association under the regulations, urging students to use grievance channels for concerns.
