Trump Admin Urged to Investigate CUNY’s ‘Black Male Initiative’ for Alleged Racial Discrimination

A legal advocacy group is demanding the Trump administration investigate CUNY's Black Male Initiative, alleging it discriminates against white students. The Equal Protection Project claims the program violates federal civil rights laws by prioritizing minority male students and excluding others.

William Jacobson, president and founder of the Equal Protection Project, stated, “It’s not a difficult case – CUNY explicitly is recruiting based on race and ethnicity and preferring certain racial and ethnic groups over others.” The group has filed a complaint with the Justice Department’s Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Harmeet Dhillon.

In 2012, the Obama Department of Education ruled that the initiative complied with federal law. Jacobson criticized this decision, saying, “The discrimination in the program should have been stopped almost 15 years ago. Only a legally ridiculous 2012 decision by the Obama Department of Education allowed the discrimination to continue. It is time for DOJ to correct this injustice.”

The Black Male Initiative aims to enhance enrollment, retention, GPA, and graduation rates of minority male students across 22 senior and community colleges within the CUNY system. This initiative has been operational for 20 years.

The Equal Protection Project's complaint also alleges violations of state and city anti-discrimination laws. However, New York lawmakers have funneled millions into funding the initiative, leading Albany and City Hall to avoid investigation.

CUNY has defended the program as both legal and appropriate. A spokesperson stated, “For 21 years the CUNY Black Male Initiative has focused on improving the educational success of underrepresented students and is open to all students regardless of race, gender or national origin.”

A source within CUNY described the Male Initiative as a well-intentioned effort to tackle the lack of young minority men in higher education. The Equal Protection Project acknowledged that while the initiative provides educational benefits, these should be accessible to all students in need, irrespective of race or ethnicity.

However, the complaint asserts that BMI’s goals and promotional materials consistently highlight favored racial and ethnic groups, indicating that the program is designed for those specific demographics. “If CUNY had a ‘White Male Initiative’ structured similarly to BMI such race-based recruiting would not be tolerated much less funded and promoted,” the complaint stated. “It is up to DOJ to ensure that the civil rights laws are enforced in a race-neutral manner.”

The complaint argues that such race-based programs face increased scrutiny following a 2023 US Supreme Court ruling declaring college affirmative action policies unconstitutional. President Trump has voiced opposition to race or ethnicity-based educational policies often labeled as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).

The Equal Protection Project has initiated cases against over 120 institutions, challenging more than 550 discriminatory scholarships and programs, including those at State University of New York campuses, the New York State Education Department, Fordham University, and Rutgers University.