February 25th 2024.
Birmingham's mayor, Randall Woodfin, recently took to social media to express his strong disapproval of a new bill that is making its way through the courts. According to Woodfin, if this bill is passed in Alabama, it would prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in public schools and universities. He believes that parents of minority student-athletes should consider sending their children to colleges in other states where diversity and inclusion are given priority.
Woodfin specifically mentioned the Alabama Senate's recent approval of the bill, which aims to prevent schools from teaching "divisive concepts" such as the idea that "slavery and racism are aligned with the founding principles of the United States." The bill also states that no race, color, religion, sex, ethnicity, or national origin should be blamed, assigned fault, or shown bias against based on these factors.
Currently, the only thing standing in the way of this bill becoming law is a House vote. Woodfin urged leaders, athletic directors, and coaches to carefully consider their support of this bill. In his post, he asked parents of minority athletes to think about whether they would be comfortable with their child attending a school where diversity among staff is actively discouraged.
Woodfin, a self-proclaimed "biggest Bama fan," made it clear that even though he supports the University of Alabama, he would have no issue rallying Black parents and athletes to attend schools outside of the state if diversity and inclusion are not valued here. He went as far as to compare the potential consequences of this bill to the infamous incident of Governor George Wallace standing in front of school doors to prevent Black students from attending.
Unsurprisingly, Woodfin's post has sparked a lot of reactions, both positive and negative. One Birmingham resident, Kena Clark, showed her support for the mayor's stance, acknowledging the criticism he often faces for being a Democrat in a Republican-run state. She praised his character and his willingness to stand up for the issues that Black people in Alabama face.
This issue has gained even more attention as Black organizations and diversity, equity, and inclusion activists put pressure on major corporations to combat similar anti-DEI tactics. It is clear that Woodfin's post has struck a chord and sparked important conversations about the value of diversity and inclusion in our society.
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