For Elia Stewart, a final-year law student at Florida A&M University (FAMU), celebrating Black History Month has become an unexpected legal and emotional battle.
Stewart, a member of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) at FAMU’s College of Law, says Florida’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) restrictions have directly interfered with how students can acknowledge Black history on campus — even limiting the language they are allowed to use.
“We couldn’t use the word ‘Black’ in Black History Month,” Stewart said told News 6, describing feedback she received while creating promotional flyers for her student organization.
According to Stewart, she was advised that the word “Black” needed to be abbreviated, and that terms such as “affirmative action” and “women” also triggered pushback.
Florida’s Senate Bill 266, enacted in 2023, prohibits public universities from using state funds for DEI programs and initiatives. While the law does not explicitly ban words or student expression, Stewart says its implementation has created confusion and fear on campus — especially when student materials are subject to administrative review.
“I just don’t want us to be censored this way,” she said. “Not being able to use the words ‘Black’ or ‘women’ is extremely frustrating for students who are just trying to honor history and educate our peers.”
A Chilling Effect on Campus
Stewart believes the impact of the law goes beyond paperwork, describing what she sees as a chilling effect on student engagement and free expression. She said students are now second-guessing how they frame events, fearing that their programming could be rejected or delayed.
One Black History Month flyer submitted by students without abbreviations remains unapproved, according to Stewart, leaving organizations unsure whether their events can move forward as planned.
“We’re just trying to promote the core mission of our school,” she said. “FAMU was founded to uplift Black students and center Black excellence. This makes it feel like our history itself is being treated as controversial.”
University Response
In a statement to News 6, Florida A&M University said it is operating in full compliance with Senate Bill 266 and Board of Governors Regulation 9.016, adding that its policies reflect guidance from the governor, the Florida Legislature, and the Board of Governors, as well as relevant federal court rulings.
The university did not specify which words or phrases are restricted under the law, a lack of clarity Stewart says is part of the problem.
“We’re left guessing what’s allowed and what’s not,” she said. “That uncertainty discourages students from speaking up at all.”
A Broader Debate
Stewart’s experience highlights growing concerns among students and civil rights advocates that Florida’s DEI laws may be limiting speech and cultural expression, particularly at historically Black colleges and universities.
While the legislation targets funding, students argue its enforcement is reshaping campus culture in ways lawmakers may not have intended.
As Black History Month continues, Stewart says she and her classmates remain committed to pushing forward.
“We shouldn’t have to fight to say the word ‘Black’ during Black History Month,” she said. “Our history is not radical. It’s American.”
