Florida A&M staff told students to drop the word “Black” from Black History Month flyers, blames staff error

FAMU reversed a Black History Month restriction

Florida A&M University admitted in February 2026 that staff at its College of Law in Orlando had wrongly restricted the word “Black” on Black History Month flyers.

FAMU, Florida’s only public historically Black university, called it a staff-level mistake.

Both university President Marva Johnson and the law school’s interim dean confirmed the word is not banned under state law. The reversal came after a law student’s complaint drew national attention.

A law student flagged the problem first

Aaliyah Steward, a final-year law student, broke the story when she contacted News 6 Orlando.

Steward said the Black Law Students Association had been told to shorten “Black History Month” to “BHM” on event flyers.

She said the words “Black,” “affirmative action,” and “women” were all flagged during the school’s flyer approval process. Staff told students those words could not appear on university materials.

The report first aired around Feb. 6, 2026.

A state law sparked the confusion

Florida Senate Bill 266, which Gov. Ron DeSantis signed in May 2023, bars public colleges from spending state or federal money on DEI programs.

The law took effect on July 1, 2023, and also bars programs that promote political or social activism as the statute defines it.

Florida’s Board of Governors approved enforcement rules in 2024 for all 12 public universities. Staff at FAMU’s law school read the law to mean certain words could not appear on student event materials.

FAMU dodged the question at first

When News 6 first asked about the restriction, FAMU gave a general statement saying it followed Senate Bill 266 and Board of Governors rules.

The university did not directly answer whether the word “Black” had been restricted. That broader, more direct response came about three days later, only after the story had spread well beyond Orlando.

The gap between the initial response and the follow-up drew its own criticism.

The story spread fast on social media

After News 6 published its report, the story took off on social media. Attorney Ben Crump and singer SZA both shared it, pushing the story to a national audience.

Steward said she felt encouraged that people outside the university reacted with the same concern students had. The widespread attention appeared to push FAMU toward a more direct public response.

Within days, both the president and the interim dean issued statements.

FAMU’s president defended the university’s identity

President Marva Johnson released a statement on Feb. 9, 2026. She said the word “Black” is central to the university’s mission and identity.

Johnson confirmed that using “Black” or “Black History Month” does not violate Senate Bill 266, Board of Governors rules, or any federal guidance.

She added that FAMU is celebrating Black History Month with full support from the institution. The message was a clear break from the initial non-answer.

Interim dean called it a staff-level mistake

Cecil Howard, the associate provost and interim dean of the College of Law, sent a message directly to students. He said the restriction went beyond what the law requires and called it a staff-level error.

Howard said university leadership never directed anyone to restrict the word.

He met with students in person after learning about the News 6 report and stated clearly that “Black” is not a prohibited word on campus.

A legal expert confirmed the law bans spending, not words

Once President Johnson got involved, the university brought in a Florida higher education law expert.

That expert confirmed that using “Black” or “Black History Month” does not violate the letter, spirit, or intent of SB 266.

Howard explained that the law and Board of Governors rules deal with spending on specific DEI programs, not banning words.

The rules also explicitly protect speech and expressive activity by student-led organizations on campus.

FAMU changed how it reviews student flyers

Howard told students the university would overhaul how it reviews promotional materials from student groups. FAMU said it would build a new system aimed at greater clarity and consistency.

While that new process takes shape, Howard said he would personally handle the final review of all communications and event materials from the law school.

The changes came as a direct response to the flyer incident.

Black History Month events moved forward as planned

FAMU’s Black History Month programming kicked off on Feb. 1, 2026, with a new exhibition at the Meek-Eaton Black Archives Research Center and Museum on the main campus in Tallahassee.

Events continued throughout the month, with the annual Harambee Festival set for Feb. 28. Johnson said the student-led activities in Orlando are a valued part of the university’s broader celebration.

The schedule went ahead without further restrictions.

The law targets DEI spending, not everyday speech

Senate Bill 266 specifically addresses how public universities spend state and federal money. It bars spending on programs that advocate for DEI as the statute defines it.

Supporters say the law targets institutional DEI spending, not everyday speech. Howard’s own statement confirmed that the law protects student organization speech.

But critics, including the ACLU of Florida and faculty unions, have argued the law creates confusion and fear on campuses that leads to self-censorship.

The incident shows how anti-DEI laws create confusion

The FAMU incident shows how Florida’s anti-DEI law gets interpreted differently from campus to campus. No one has publicly identified which staff member originally issued the word restriction.

FAMU leadership said the directive did not come from the top.

The confusion at a historically Black university during Black History Month drew particular scrutiny. The university said it will not let compliance with state law erase its identity.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• Florida’s colonial horror: why 600 people fled this fort in a single night
• Lu: the Hollywood hippo who got Florida citizenship when the state tried to evict him
• Churchill’s 1946 Miami stop involved parrots, flamingos, and Texas turkeys