Identity of Speakers
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Aaliyah Steward
Student
OtherStudent at the Florida A&M University College of Law who reported that her Black History Month flyers were flagged for containing the word “Black.”
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Black Law Students Association at Florida A&M Universit
Student
OtherStudent organization that represents and supports Black law students, promotes professional development, and organizes cultural and educational events.
Additional Information
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Incident Nature:
Student publication
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Incident Political Orientation:
Not Clear -
Incident Responses:
University administration invoked formal speech code in response
University administration changed university policy as a consequence
State Campus Free Speech Act
Title IX or other federal statute
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Incident Status:
No litigation
- Was Speech Code incident
Summary
On February 6, 2026, a student at the Florida A&M University College of Law, a historically Black university (HBCU), Aaliyah Steward, said that when she submitted promotional materials for Black History Month events organized by the Black Law Students Association, university staff flagged and requested removal of the word “black” along with other terms such as “affirmative action” and “women” during the flyer approval process. Steward said she was told those words could not be published or broadcast, and that she would have to abbreviate “Black” on the materials. Students reported feeling frustrated that they were being told they could not use the word “Black” in connection with Black History Month events at an institution with a longstanding mission to serve Black students. Steward’s account indicated the university had cited compliance with state restrictions on diversity, equity, and inclusion programming as the reason for the directive.
In the days after the initial report, Florida A&M University issued statements acknowledging the situation and explaining the university’s interpretation of state law, which prohibits use of state or federal funds for diversity programs and activities. The university noted it had been implementing state policy requirements alongside Board of Governors regulations. Steward’s comments and the university’s response were publicly shared on social media by students and alumni, including posts describing the situation where promotional content was flagged for containing the word “Black.”
By February 9, 2026, university leadership clarified that the word “Black” was not officially banned from flyers and described the earlier request to remove it as an error stemming from an overly cautious interpretation by staff that exceeded what state law requires. Florida A&M officials said they consulted a higher‑education law expert to confirm that the use of “Black” did not violate relevant state law or Board of Governors regulations, and they stated the issue had been corrected going forward.
Following the clarification, FAMU’s president reiterated that the term “Black” and the phrase “Black History Month” were not prohibited and emphasized the importance of the term within the university’s identity as the only public historically Black university (HBCU) in Florida. The university said it would adjust its internal review process for student organization materials to ensure clearer guidance and prevent similar misunderstandings in the future.
