Black Brown Dialogues on Policy (BBDP) Launches With a Fresh Vision for Black Brown Unity—beginning with Support for DEI Policy in Higher Education

Feb 16, 2023

Friends:

I am very pleased to say that our Black Brown Dialogues on Policy organization debuted yesterday with a website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram accounts—in solidarity with the Texas NAACP, LULAC, the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, and the Mexican American Legislative Caucus yesterday at the Texas State Capitol, expressing deep concerns with harmful anti-DEI bills. For context, here are Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's recent anti-DEI statements:

Gov. Greg Abbott tells state agencies to stop considering diversity in hiring

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick says Texas GOP will 'wipe out' college diversity hiring programs

Anti-DEI House Bills we are challenging: House Bill 1607, House Bill 1006, and House Bill 1046

Anti-DEI Senate Bills we are challenging [that have yet to be filed, but are the governor's priorities]: Senate Bill 16–Banning Critical Race Theory (CRT) in Higher Education; Senate Bill 17-Banning Discriminatory “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” (DEI) Policies in Higher Education; and Senate Bill 18-Eliminating Tenure at General Academic Institutions

As we are in the process of organizing a Virtual Town Hall that will give voice to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as support for Ethnic Studies. You can stay current by liking and following all of our social media accounts: website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

You can view yesterday's press conference here.

You can learn more about us here.

We're asking everybody to sign the pledge we've posted on our website to "Stand and Fight for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Higher Education."

Below are the news items from yesterday. I applaud the journalists who framed this in terms of Black and Latino—or Black and Brown where this is a large, inclusive, intergenerational, Gen Z-inclusive, intersectional tent. We're all in this together and that's what we seek to promote.

Join the movement!

-Angela Valenzuela, co-convener

Black Brown Dialogues on Policy

@TeamBlackBrown #TeamBlackBrown #BlackBrownUnity #DontLetDEIdie #GenZ #BlackBrownSolidarity

Black and Latino lawmakers slam Gov. Greg Abbott for order limiting diversity considerations in hiring

The lawmakers called on major sports organizations to not host championship games in the state until the governor rescinds his guidance to agencies and universities.

BY KATE MCGEE FEB. 14, 2023

Black lawmakers outraged at Gov. Abbott's call for state agencies to end DEI hiring

Megan Menchaca

Austin American-Statesman