A law student at Florida A&M University says the word “Black” was flagged during the approval process for promotional flyers tied to Black History Month events, sparking confusion and criticism on campus.
Aaliyah Steward, a final-year student at the university’s College of Law, claimed that while submitting materials for events organized by the Black Law Students Association, certain words were marked as unacceptable. According to Steward, those words included “Black,” “affirmative action,” and “women.”
She said organizers were told the word “Black” could not appear in the materials and would need to be abbreviated instead. Steward described feeling shocked and frustrated, noting that the institution is Florida’s only public historically Black college and university (HBCU). She expressed concern that limiting such language contradicted the school’s identity and mission.
Steward also said students were informed that a list of multiple restricted terms had been circulated to administrators. She worried that the restrictions may have stemmed from fears about losing state funding.
The controversy comes amid changes to higher education policy in Florida. In May 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 266 into law. The legislation bars public colleges and universities in the state from using public funds for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs.
Initially, the university stated that its actions were in compliance with state law and regulations from the Board of Governors. The administration emphasized its commitment to following legislative directives while supporting free expression and maintaining a respectful campus environment.
However, days later, Cecil Howard, the College of Law’s associate provost and interim dean, clarified that the word “Black” had not been officially banned. He described the situation as a staff-level mistake resulting from an overly cautious interpretation of the law. Howard said the error had been corrected and took responsibility for ensuring it would not happen again.
He also noted that the university consulted with a higher education law expert to confirm that using the word “Black” and the phrase “Black History Month” does not violate state law.
University President Marva Johnson further affirmed that the term “Black” is central to the institution’s identity as a public HBCU. She stated that its use does not conflict with Senate Bill 266 or related regulations.
In response to the incident, the university announced plans to revise its review procedures for student organization materials to provide clearer guidance and greater consistency. Until the updated system is fully in place, Howard said he will personally oversee final approval of communications and event-related content.
Steward later said she felt encouraged by the public attention the issue received and by the university’s corrective actions. She expressed hope that the outcome would lead to meaningful changes and protect students’ ability to speak openly about issues important to their community.