'I want my reparations right now': Emmitt Smith backs DEI once again, demands payment from University of Florida



Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith again criticized the removal of diversity, equity, and inclusion programs from universities, claiming the programs are being removed out of spite.

The running back added to comments he made in March 2024, calling out the University of Florida specifically for removing DEI programs. Having played at the university himself, Smith took issue with the lack of payment he got in a time before NIL payments have made so many college athletes into high-income earners.

"Bro, I want my reparations right now from the University of Florida," Smith told USA Today. "I want to send their [expletive] a bill. I want interest on mine. Because I know one thing: When I was in that stadium – and I hate to talk about myself, but the system has forced me to talk about it because we couldn't get NIL [payments] – running up and down that field with Cedric Smith leading the way with my great offensive linemen blocking for me, when you looked up in those stands you saw a whole lot of E. Smith jerseys up there. E. Smith 22s. You can look at the old videos and see how many jerseys were walking around. And I didn’t receive one red cent," he recalled.

BlazeTV commentator Jason Whitlock said that Smith and the university engaged in a fair exchange.

"Emmitt is infected with the disease of entitlement," the "Fearless" host stated. "The University of Florida helped him on his journey, and he helped the University of Florida."

"It was a fair exchange. Emmitt is out over his skis and just saying what is popular at the moment," Whitlock added.

'They only want you to do one thing for them ... help them raise capital so they can continue to build monuments around there of people that don’t look like you or I.'

Smith said he believed that DEI was a "consequence of NIL" and lamented about how DEI programs are needed to ensure black or Latino students get into certain schools.

"How can we help our other African American and Latino students around the country get into this great university? To me, taking that DEI component away says you get to make all the decisions you want and not include people who can also have a significant impact on the university."

The former Dallas Cowboy would also like to see DEI apply to the corporate world. He expressed that construction companies should be given the opportunity to work on projects based on the race of their ownership.

"There's a lot of talk, a lot of rhetoric, and I've seen how some of this stuff works ... I've seen where you have infrastructure projects around the [Dallas-Fort Worth] area, and the same four major companies are the lead construction folks on those sites. The limitations that minority companies have is not only working capital but also the capacity to get on those jobs."

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The Super Bowl champion said that DEI was being destroyed simply for the "sake of politics" and out of "spite and sheer power."

He added that DEI programs were likely never going to be something that was kept and invoked the death of George Floyd as a marker for when DEI programs started popping up.

“In other words, they said, 'This is for the moment.' And again, that just goes to show you that they really didn't mean it. It's not in their heart to do what's right. It's in their heart to keep the system going the way it is. So, anyone making that decision, they were never for it, never for equality. And some of them weren't doing it before George Floyd. So, what makes you think they are going to do it now? They're trying to get rid of something that was a pipeline to opening up the opportunities, even for small and minority businesses."

The football star rounded out his comments with remarks about needing representation of certain skin colors in order to feel welcomed.

"They really don't have their best interest at heart. They only want you to do one thing for them, and that is to generate excitement and enthusiasm all around sports and entertainment, to help them raise capital so they can continue to build monuments around there of people that don’t look like you or I."

He said the biggest question for the University of Florida that is not being addressed was, "How can we get minority enrollment up?"

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'I'm utterly disgusted': NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith enraged by University of Florida eliminating DEI department



Super Bowl champion and Hall of Fame NFL player Emmitt Smith sounded off with vehement opposition to the University of Florida closing its diversity, equity, and inclusion department.

Smith, who most famously played for the Dallas Cowboys in perhaps their most well-known era in the 1990s, took to his X account to react to the news that the University of Florida would comply with state law and shut down their DEI operations.

"I’m utterly disgusted by [University of Florida's] decision and the precedent that it sets," Smith said in a statement. "Without the DEI department, the job falls to the Office of the Provost, who already has their hands full, to raise money for the university and continue to advance the academic studies in athletic programs."

Regulations were passed in Florida in January 2024 that limited public funding for any DEI programs, defining them as "any program, campus activity, or policy that classifies individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation and promotes differential or preferential treatment of individuals on the basis of such classification."

As Fox News reported, the university closed their department that employed 13 full-time DEI workers and another 15 administrative positions.

Smith also played at the university and is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, as well.

"We need diverse thinking and backgrounds to enhance our University and the DEI department is necessary to accomplish those goals," Smith continued, seemingly pushing that the department enhances diversity of thought.

The running back interestingly also accused the school of conforming to modern political times and made no mention that the school was following state regulations.

"Instead of showing courage and leadership, we continue to fail based on systemic issues with this decision, UF has conformed to the political pressures of today’s time."

Smith finished by stating that the school was closing its doors to minorities and blaming those who haven't spoken out against the decision as supporting systemic problems.

"To the MANY minority athletes at UF, please be aware and vocal about this decision by the University who is now closing the doors on other minorities without any oversight. And to those who think it’s not your problem and stay on the side lines and say nothing, you are complicit in supporting systemic issues."

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Smith recently praised the addition of NARCAN on flights on Southwest Airlines. NARCAN is a drug that helps prevent lethal overdoses.

"This is [sic] example of not making excuses and getting things done that protect other Americans," he wrote.

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