Kendi-style antiracism centers did little despite large budgets

Published: Friday, June 6, 2025 at 10:00 am

Several universities across the United States established centers focused on racial justice and anti-racism following the death of George Floyd. These centers, often funded by large grants from organizations like the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, aimed to address systemic racism through research, programming, and community engagement.

However, a review of these centers reveals mixed results. Some, like George Mason University's Center for Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation, appear to have been shuttered with little to show for their efforts. Similarly, Temple University's Center for Anti-Racism has faced criticism for a lack of visibility and discernible academic output despite receiving significant funding. Georgetown University's Racial Justice Institute has seen a slowdown in research and events. The University of California, Irvine's Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation center also has a limited public presence. The University of Michigan's Center for Racial Justice has produced a small number of research publications.

In contrast, the University of Minnesota's Center for Antiracism Research for Health Equity produced a significant amount of research but faced controversy and was slated to be shuttered due to allegations of plagiarism against its founder.

These centers, while receiving substantial financial backing, have struggled to demonstrate tangible progress in their stated goals.

BNN's Perspective: The findings raise questions about the effectiveness and accountability of these initiatives. While the intentions behind these centers are laudable, the lack of demonstrable results and, in some cases, internal issues, suggest a need for greater oversight and a reevaluation of strategies to ensure that resources are used effectively to combat racism.

Keywords: racial justice, anti-racism, George Floyd, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, George Mason University, Temple University, Georgetown University, University of Michigan, University of California Irvine, University of Minnesota, research, programming, community engagement, funding, accountability, effectiveness, plagiarism.

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