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Colleges are canceling affinity graduations due to anti-DEI policies. Here is how students are preserving the traditions
CNN ^ | Sat May 24, 2025 | Nicquel Terry Ellis

Posted on 05/24/2025 6:02:52 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Elyse Martin-Smith began meeting with her classmates at Harvard University last summer to plan the annual Black student graduation hosted by a campus group she leads.

The ceremony was set to be a celebration of Black culture, featuring musicians, poetry readings, messages about the historic struggle for racial equality, and a speech by Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the “1619 Project,” Martin-Smith said.

Students had reserved Harvard Memorial Church on campus for the event, she said.

But in early May, Martin-Smith said she received an email from university officials saying she would not be allowed to host the Black graduation on campus.

Harvard is among several universities across the country that have canceled affinity graduations amid threats from President Donald Trump to block medical research funding and revoke accreditation from schools that don’t end diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Trump decries these programs as “illegal and immoral discrimination.”

Affinity graduations are optional events typically led by students to celebrate different student identities and ethnicities. Commonly held ceremonies often honor Black, Hispanic, Asian, first-generation and LGBTQ+ students. Students say the events are significant because they honor the music, apparel, food, history, language and traditions unique to their identity.

(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 05/24/2025 6:02:53 PM PDT by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

Segregation Today!
Segregation Tomorrow!
Segregation Forever!


2 posted on 05/24/2025 6:04:13 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: MinorityRepublican

“preserving the traditions”

LOL...black separatist racist have traditions? Who knew? They might as well don white robes with eyeholes and pointed hats. The black and white racists are two sides of one coin.


3 posted on 05/24/2025 6:06:36 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“Diversity is our Strength” just doesn’t carry the same message as “Death from Above”)
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To: MinorityRepublican

They can hold these parties at a hall or a church off campus.


4 posted on 05/24/2025 6:08:08 PM PDT by Freee-dame ( )
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To: dfwgator
Why should I have to ride the same bus with whitey? Or drink at the same water fountain? or the same restrooms? Diversity now! Equality now! Inclusion now!

excepting whitey of course.

5 posted on 05/24/2025 6:08:28 PM PDT by BipolarBob (I worked at the circus as The Human Cannonball, until they fired me.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Elyse Martin-Smith began meeting with her classmates at Harvard University last summer to plan the annual Black student graduation...

Can you just imagine how insane Elyse Martin-Smith would go if a group of "White" students got togther to plan the annual "White" student graduation?

6 posted on 05/24/2025 6:16:54 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Democrats are the Party of anger, hate and violence.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
Article:
…a celebration of Black culture, featuring musicians, poetry readings, messages, functionally illiterate college graduates, drug dealers, ho's, big booties, gangstas, …

7 posted on 05/24/2025 6:17:39 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie ( O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is gracious, and His mercy endures forever. — Psalm 106)
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To: BipolarBob

“Commonly held ceremonies often honor Black, Hispanic, Asian, first-generation and LGBTQ+ students. Students say the events are significant because they honor the music, apparel, food, history, language and traditions unique to their identity.”
Say, why not found your own colleges and universities? Oh, that’s right, you would only offer degrees in Sociology and Ethnic Studies.


8 posted on 05/24/2025 6:18:53 PM PDT by Bookshelf
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To: MinorityRepublican

“speech by Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the “1619 Project,” Martin
I would suggest a copy of Peter W. Wood’s
“1620: A Critical Response to the 1619 Project“”. For the truth


9 posted on 05/24/2025 6:18:58 PM PDT by griswold3 (Truth Beauty and Goodness)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
how insane Elyse Martin-Smith would go if a group of "White" students got togther

Yep. Just change all the places "black" appears with the word "white" and watch the earth shake with indignation.
10 posted on 05/24/2025 6:21:25 PM PDT by wbarmy (Trying to do better.)
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To: MinorityRepublican
> Commonly held ceremonies often honor Black, Hispanic, Asian, first-generation and LGBTQ+ students.

Ummm, White students don't have "affinity"? Like hell they don't. It's only fair that there be a White Affinity Graduation ceremony.

What about Native Americans (or are they "first-generation" whatever that is)?

And as for "LBGTQ+" so-called "affinity", I have news for you. As Dave Chappell so accurately pointed out, those sub-groups don't necessarily see eye to eye with each other, in fact there's considerable animosity, not affinity.

Frack this sheet. One graduation, for everybody. Damn, people; WTF?

11 posted on 05/24/2025 6:21:49 PM PDT by dayglored (This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalms 118:24)
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To: MinorityRepublican
"and a speech by Nikole Hannah-Jones, the creator of the '1619' Project,"


12 posted on 05/24/2025 6:29:40 PM PDT by clearcarbon (Fraudulent elections have consequences.)
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To: Freee-dame

They can hold these parties at the roadhouse down by the crossroads.


13 posted on 05/24/2025 6:30:18 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler (The judges are ganging up against the American people.)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

14 posted on 05/24/2025 6:30:47 PM PDT by HYPOCRACY (Long live The Great MAGA Kangz!)
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To: dayglored
One graduation, for everybody.

One official graduation ceremony held by the university, yes. As for the various "identities and ethnicities", let them have their "affinity ceremonies" if they want. Freedom of association and all that. But not on campus, and absolutely no funding or any other form of support from the university, not even a statement of approval. These clowns can have their little hate fests on their own, using their own money.

15 posted on 05/24/2025 6:34:39 PM PDT by HartleyMBaldwin
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To: HYPOCRACY; Red Badger; SunkenCiv

And that display was followed the students, and then the crowd of parents twerking and jerking


16 posted on 05/24/2025 6:51:36 PM PDT by Robert A Cook PE (Method, motive, and opportunity: No morals, shear madness and hatred by those who cheat.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

E. Pluribus Identitum. Fools.


17 posted on 05/24/2025 7:02:27 PM PDT by Albion Wilde (Think about it: The Supreme Court is nine lawyers appointed for life by politicians. —David Horowitz)
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To: MinorityRepublican

“affinity graduation”

That’s a new one on me. The latest from the George Orwell euphemism factory.

Whites should have their own “affinity graduation”.


18 posted on 05/24/2025 7:25:53 PM PDT by aquila48 (Do not let them make you "care" ! Guilting you is how they. control you. )
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To: Freee-dame

>> They can hold these parties at a hall or a church off campus.

Unless “they” are white. Whites may not even think about holding “affinity parties”. No siree!


19 posted on 05/24/2025 7:39:42 PM PDT by Nervous Tick (Hope, as a righteous product of properly aligned Faith, IS in fact a strategy.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Tribalism runs strong in certain races.


20 posted on 05/24/2025 8:16:29 PM PDT by chief lee runamok ( Le Flâneur @Large)
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