Why my son won’t attend a Florida college
As a first-generation college graduate, I am deeply proud of the journalism and communications degree I earned from the University of Florida (UF). That singular document not only represents four years of late nights, early mornings, countless essays, and numerous exams, but also the start of my personal and professional trajectory as a communications expert deeply invested in creating a more just and equitable society.
My studies provided me with the knowledge needed to be an effective strategic communicator. The Florida Blue Key, Black Student Union and UF Student Alumni Association helped me grow my leadership skills and passion for community service, advocacy, and racial justice. And above all, UF has given me priceless lifelong relationships — particularly one with a fellow Gator who is now my husband.
I dreamed that years from now, I would watch my son graduate from UF. But that dream has been deferred.
On May 15, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation banning student activities promoting diversity, equity and inclusion at all public Florida universities, and prohibiting these schools from offering courses that “are based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.” Under this law, public Florida schools could no longer have campus-wide celebrations of Hispanic Heritage Month, entire African-American Studies departments could be eliminated and safe havens for religious observance such as the UF Hillel could be shuttered.
This law, the latest in a series of racist and homophobic legislation designed to ostracize those who do not identify as white, cis-gendered and heterosexual, has profound implications for students like me who wanted to go to college and then greatly benefited from the social and economic mobility it offered. For the next generation of Florida students who are people of color, low income, first-generation or immigrants — it sends a clear message: You are not welcome here.
Moreover, this is an assault on academic integrity, the first amendment and all state residents. The long-term effects of this legislation will likely weaken Florida’s competitiveness domestically and globally, draining our workforce of the brightest thinkers, greatest scientists, innovators and future leaders.
Many businesses that are already here will leave, and ones that were considering Florida will look to set up shop elsewhere. Tourists who value diversity, inclusion and freedom of thought will choose other vacation destinations.
It should come as no surprise that Florida’s governor and his gang of co-conspirators have decided that people like me are expendable for right-wing political gain. DeSantis and his cronies in the legislature wield their power for cheap political ploys as opposed to real policies on issues such as common-sense gun reform, climate change and housing affordability.
Their sights are set on whitewashing – emphasis on “white” – our state’s premier higher education institutions. DeSantis has proclaimed his real agenda to reverse progress, much of which has historically been ignited on college campuses.
I am in a position where I have choices on where I can send my child to school — much in part due to my pursuit of higher education.
As it stands, that will not be in Florida. I could uproot my entire life and seek refuge in a state that embraces diversity as opposed to excluding it, but as a life-long Floridian, I will not run from problems, but instead do my part to fix them.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” We each can play a part in bending Florida’s arc. We are seeing promising attempts at decency and humanity by organizers, advocates and everyday individuals who are fighting back against these heinous attacks. The day of reckoning — Election Day — is coming.
We now all must see the outsized importance of casting our vote, particularly in state and local elections. Republican elected officials are not inevitable and not infallible, and we the people have the power to remove them from office. They represent us, and when they don’t do that well, their time must come to an end.
Our future and that of our children depends on it.
Kamali Burke, who lives in Miami, is a vice president at Fenton, the largest full-service, public interest communications agency in the nation.
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