IZZIE WEBB
It’s Black History Month, and TCC’s website doesn’t list a single event to celebrate it.
Since Gov. Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 17 in 2024, which banned diversity, equity and inclusion from institutions of public higher education in Texas, our college has been over compliant with the law.
TCC’s website says the law prohibits the college from establishing a DEI office, conducting DEI training and giving employment preferences based on DEI, all of which concern the internal functions of the college, not the college celebrating culture.
The website also says that cultural events are allowed under SB-17 if they are inclusive and do not give preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity or protected characteristics.
So, why is our college saying it’s OK for them to host events, but then it doesn’t?
We believe it’s because our college is adhering to the law far beyond what is necessary.
Since taxpayers fund our school, TCC has removed events for cultural celebration from its calendar to appease those in the community who frown upon diversity. So, instead of focusing on creating a lively on-campus environment like it used to have, it’s listening to the demands of people who aren’t students.
And this doesn’t look good, especially because other public institutions of higher education in Texas are hosting multiple events all month long that are put on by both student organizations and the college.
UTA’s event calendar lists every event its Black Student Union is hosting in its calendar. South Campus’ Black Student Union is hosting events, but they’re not in TCC’s calendar.
Dallas College has an entire page dedicated to all the events it is hosting for Black History Month. One day, it’s having a vendor fair featuring departments, community partners and Black-owned businesses.
Amarillo College’s engineering instructor Vanessa Miles and her daughter Victoria Miles, a mechanical engineer, will be guest speakers for their series “Girls Who Science” to speak about the importance of representation and access to diverse roles in STEM education.
Lone Star College’s Student Success Institute Program worked beside it’s Black Student Union to host a painting with a twist event for students with a live DJ and a Black History Month fashion show.
The last time TCC hosted events for Black History Month was in 2024. There were 15, one of those being the last time the college held Celebrating Strides, a district-wide celebration of African Americans that was held for 12 years. The theme that year focused on African American art and the stories behind its creativity.
TR had speakers from the Tarrant County Black Historical and Genealogical Society share the history of the African American experience in the county.
South Campus hosted a field trip to visit Greenwood Rising Black Wall Street History Center.
Connect Campus held a speaker panel with five distinguished Fort Worth community members discussing the evolution of Black excellence.
SE hosted a luncheon to discuss the historical achievements made by Black people.
NW Student Activities and Intercultural Network, now called Student Center, joined their African American Student Organization to celebrate Black art and food to honor the rich history of the community.
Last year, student clubs struggled to host cultural events, stating it was because the college wasn’t allowed to fund, organize or help clubs during their process. Before SB-17, clubs had the help of an adviser, but now they’re limited to what they can do to support a club.
Also, the process for higher-ups approving events became a long-convoluted process that typically resulted in clubs obtaining their event’s approval on the scheduled day of the event.
The college praises the unique diversity on its webpage for why TCC is right for you, stating Black students make up 18.9% of our campus population.
Instead of using diversity as a ploy to get people to enroll, TCC should show the students already enrolled they support them and their culture.