IT'S TIME TO FIGHT BACK!
Join Our Movement
Join Our Movement
Be part of the change, starting NOW!
Our Power For Change
The University of Michigan leadership has systematically dismantled Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs, revealing their true priorities.
The Deck's Stacked Against Us
Black students are expendable. Black alumni don't generate enough revenue to compete with mega donors who actively support—or conveniently ignore—anti-Black policies.
A Source of Power
The Black athletes whose talent drives multimillion-dollar football and basketball programs, enhances the university's global brand, and provides entertainment that keeps wealthy donors writing checks.
Time To Leverage Our Power
It's time to leverage our greatest asset, to impact what they care about. Their money and their entertainment. Without elite Black athletes, their prized revenue streams collapse.
Blueprint For a National Movement
In our tradition of being the true "Leaders and Best" we will build the blueprint for other groups to implement at D1 programs with similar anti-Black leadership and policies.
Our Coalition
We are a united force of Black University of Michigan alumni, students, faculty, staff, and community members committed to protecting our children and confronting anti-Blackness head-on.
For decades, the University of Michigan has failed its Black students—ignoring their needs, dismantling their support systems, and allowing a toxic racial climate to persist. Enough is enough.
Today, we’re taking action. We are calling on elite Black athletes to reject the University of Michigan until they make real, lasting change. This means:
- Removing Board of Regents members who have supported anti-Black policies.
- Restoring critical programs that support Black student success.
- Implementing bold, new initiatives to create a truly inclusive and equitable campus.
Michigan thrives on Black talent. If the university refuses to respect and support Black students, it doesn’t deserve Black excellence.
Change starts now.
Our Message to Student Athletes & Families
We stand with you
This campaign supports current Black student-athletes and the broader Black student community.
Demand respect
Choose schools that value your growth, mental health, and future, not just athletic performance.
Take your talent elsewhere
If Michigan refuses to support Black students, Black talent will go where it's valued.
Our Case Against Anti-Black Regents
We're calling for the resignation of three University of Michigan regents who actively promoted harmful policies targeting Black students long before Trump's Executive Order. We understand that "DEI" has become code for "Black" and these Regents' attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion are direct attacks on Black students at UofM.
Regent Jordan Acker
Regent Jordan Acker is echoing the conservative playbook—using the tired excuse of “wasteful spending” to undermine Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts at the University of Michigan. He claims that despite $250 million spent on DEI, minority enrollment hasn’t significantly increased. But instead of pushing for stronger action or deeper investment, he’s targeting the very infrastructure meant to drive change.
Regent Mark Bernstein
Regent Mark Bernstein’s actions reveal exactly how bias and double standards operate at the University of Michigan—especially when race and power are involved.
In 2024, Bernstein led the charge to fire Rachel Dawson, a Black DEI director, over disputed allegations that she made antisemitic remarks at a conference. Dawson denied the claims. Initially, the university planned to require antisemitism and leadership training—standard practice in similar cases. But Bernstein dismissed that as a “mockery” and demanded her immediate firing. By December, she was gone. No due process. No consistency. Just political pressure—and punishment.
Regent Sarah Hubbard
Regent Sarah Hubbard is leading the charge to dismantle the University of Michigan’s commitment to equity and inclusion. In March 2025, she backed shutting down the university’s DEI office and scrapping the DEI 2.0 Strategic Plan—dismissing these efforts as “wasteful spending.” Her excuse? That eliminating DEI will somehow promote “diversity of thought” and “free speech.”
These regents must be held accountable for their pattern of decisions that have harmed Black students at Michigan. Click here to learn more.
Wear Red to Demonstrate your support
Show your solidarity at sporting events and rallies by wearing red. Wear your own red clothing or purchase apparel. The apparel was produced by a local, Black-owned vendor who's selling apparel at cost to support the cause.
T-Shirts & Hoodies
Quality apparel featuring powerful messages that show your support
Join Our Movement
Leverage Your Talent
Contribute as a blogger, videographer, alumni/student liaison, core team member, event organizer, or join help us send targeted emails and/or make phone calls.
Activate Your Network
Connect us with interested and influential individuals who can champion our cause. Help organize in major cities outside of the state of Michigan.
Share Your Story
Do you have a memory of being mistreated as a Black student at Michigan? Do you have friends who have stories? Share these stories to help expose the truth. You may remain anonymous if you'd like.
Contact Us & Join The Fight
Your voice matters in our fight against anti-Black policies at the University of Michigan.
Share your contact information to become part of our growing coalition and to let us know whether you'll attend the Spring game.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Should student athletes have to sacrifice their dreams to fight injustice?
A1: We're not asking elite recruits to give up their goals. We're simply urging them to choose programs that don't enable anti-Black policies. If the University of Michigan can get new leadership and take meaningful steps, they could become one of those options worth endorsing.
Q2: The Trump administration forced University of Michigan to eliminated support for Black students. Why should the leadership be punished when their hands were tied?
A2: The University's leadership was attacking diversity and inclusion long before the current administration. Under the guise of "institutional neutrality" and "wasteful spending", they led the charge against critical programs. We know universities are facing historic pressure, but it will take true resolve to combat this. That won't happen with complicit leadership.
Q3: Racism is everywhere on campuses. Won't these athletes face the same problems anywhere?
A3: While some schools have closed vital support offices, others have not. Leadership from some Universities have been staunch supporters of diversity, equity, and inclusion, others have not. We're encouraging elite Black players to seek out the schools that have shown the courage to fight for diversity, equity, and inclusion - the ones that prioritize improving the lives of Black students.
Q4: I'm not a UofM alum or student. Why should I care?
A4: The University of Michigan employs hundreds of Black people locally. These attacks on DEI are attacks on Black people and the administration will not stop at closing DEI offices and firing staff. Black workers are being targeted by DOGE cuts and these types of racially targeted cuts may be on our doorstep if we don’t resist now. DEI cuts may also prevent Black people from receiving high quality healthcare.
A4: The University of Michigan employs hundreds of Black people locally. These attacks on DEI are attacks on Black people and the administration will not stop at closing DEI offices and firing staff. Black workers are being targeted by DOGE cuts and these types of racially targeted cuts may be on our doorstep if we don’t resist now. DEI cuts may also prevent Black people from receiving high quality healthcare.
Have additional questions?
Email questions to: info@fightbackum.com
Email questions to: info@fightbackum.com
"The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don't have any." - Alice Walker