By State Representative Doreen Carter (D-Lithonia)
(321 words)
As a proud alumna of Kennesaw State University and a member of the Georgia House of Representatives, I am deeply disappointed and disturbed by the university’s recent decision to eliminate the Black Studies major—alongside Philosophy and Technical Communication—and the troubling treatment of a student who peacefully protested this action during commencement.
Black Studies is not simply a program—it is a vital academic discipline that affirms the voices, contributions and lived experiences of Black people across the globe. The decision to dismantle this program in a university where more than 25 percent of the student body is Black undermines our collective efforts toward equity, inclusion and justice.
The rationale given—low enrollment—fails to consider the growing interest and the value this program brings not just to Black students but to the university as a whole. Moreover, discrepancies in the enrollment data, particularly the exclusion of double majors, raises serious concerns about the transparency and integrity of this decision.
Even more alarming is the removal of Brandon Moore, a graduating student, from the commencement stage for holding a sign that read “Black Studies Matter.” His peaceful protest was not disruptive—it was courageous. Silencing a student at their own graduation for standing up for academic freedom and cultural identity sends a chilling message to all students and alumni who believe in justice.
Kennesaw State University must do better. I call on the university’s leadership to: immediately revisit and reverse the decision to deactivate the Black Studies program; open an honest and transparent dialogue with students, faculty and alumni; and publicly affirm and protect the rights of students to express themselves peacefully, even when their views challenge institutional decisions.
As an elected leader, an education advocate and a KSU alumna, I will not remain silent while hard-won progress is rolled back. Black Studies matter. Our voices matter. Our history and future deserve to be studied, celebrated and upheld—not erased.
Representative Doreen Carter represents the citizens of District 93, which includes portions of DeKalb, Gwinnett and Rockdale counties. She was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2015 and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Code Revision, Economic Development & Tourism, Education and Small Business Development committees.
###