Media Contact:
tmcfpress@tmcf.org
“We at the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) are outraged by the bigotry and ignorance echoed by Elon Musk on X. Fortunately, his obscene attempt to crush the aspirations and dreams of talented young men and women will fail miserably. Armed with the power of history and talent, our students persevere as a counterforce to racism and exclusion. Public HBCUs serve nearly 80% of all students attending the nation’s Black colleges and have a long and distinguished history of producing world-class scientists who have established pre-eminence in the fields of aviation, aerospace, and aeronautics. Had Mr. Musk conducted a simple Google search, he would have learned about the Tuskegee Airmen, astronaut Ronald E. McNair, and other giants who contributed to the vitality of the global scientific enterprise.
TMCF is proud to partner with dozens of Fortune 500 companies who are engaging the talent at HBCUs not because it is the nice or “woke” thing to do but because it is the smart thing to do for their bottom line. Equally important, they acknowledge that Black economic power is projected at $1.7 trillion by 2030. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives are not about hiring less-qualified individuals but creating a competitive advantage. Great leaders in corporate America embrace DEI. Mr. Musk’s failure to understand the value and benefits of diversity in the workplace may be part of the reason that Platform X’s value, according to Fidelity, has plummeted by more than 71% under his lack of leadership.
Today, more than ever, we need an America that believes in and is willing to invest in realizing the infinite possibilities of human potential as a pathway to economic and national security. Summoned to become the architects of America’s destiny, we link our grand aspirations to the vision of Associate Justice Thurgood Marshall.”
Dr. Harry L. Williams
President & CEO
Thurgood Marshall College Fund
ABOUT THE THURGOOD MARSHALL COLLEGE FUND
Established in 1987, the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) is the nation’s largest organization exclusively representing the Black College Community. TMCF member-schools include the publicly-supported Historically Black Colleges and Universities and Predominantly
Black Institutions, enrolling nearly 80% of all students attending black colleges and universities. Through scholarships, capacity building and research initiatives, innovative programs, and strategic partnerships, TMCF is a vital resource in the K-12 and higher education space. The
organization is also the source of top employers seeking top talent for competitive internships and good jobs.
TMCF is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, charitable organization. For more information about TMCF, visit: www.tmcf.org.
