Black conservative group plans to visit FAMU HC on Friday

A group of Black conservatives plans to bring their “Educate to Liberate” tour to FAMU on this Friday.  The group, Blexit, founded by conservative political commentator Candace Owens and funded by Turning Point USA, a right-wing nonprofit founded by the later Charlie Kirk with the stated mission “to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government.  The event, which will feature a slate of conservative speakers aims to promote conservative values and “spark powerful conversations,” according to the group’s promotional materials.

But the tour’s timing and mission have ignited a firestorm of criticism online, where many have accused it of being a deliberate attempt to disrupt FAMU's homecoming a sacred season of unity and celebration.  It also arrives at a sensitive moment for FAMU’s leadership, coming just a week after President Marva Johnson, made a controversial visit to the Fox News studios in New York to pay homage to host Harris Faulkner, a vocal supporter of President Donald J. Trump.

Ms. Johnson’s appearance, coupled with the Blexit event, has intensified scrutiny from alumni who have grown wary of her ties to Gov. Ron DeSantis administration and her perceived alignment with conservative political figures.

Criticism of tour
“You know how lame and corny you have to be to wanna be on some Blexit MAGA stuff during an HBCU homecoming,” one user wrote on the social media platform X, a sentiment that has been widely shared across social media platforms, reflecting a broader frustration with what many see as a political stunt.

Blexit, whose name merges “Black” and “exit,” argues that Democratic policies have failed Black Americans and promotes a message of conservative empowerment, personal responsibility and financial literacy (though tour is being bankrolled largely by white conservatives).    

The HBCU tour follows an unannounced visit by conservative activists to Tennessee State University just three weeks ago, which ignited heated debates over free speech and safety on campus. That event, which led to confrontations between activists and students, has left many HBCU communities on high alert.

In statements, Blexit has framed its mission as one of intellectual diversity, claiming it seeks to offer viewpoints it says are often excluded from campus discourse. Yet the choice to schedule events during homecoming—a time of reunion, football and pageantry deeply woven into the fabric of Black collegiate life—is seen by critics as a deliberate strategy to maximize attention and controversy.

FAMU officials have emphasized their commitment to free expression. “Florida A&M University is a place of learning and dialogue, and we support the right of all individuals to express their views in a lawful and respectful manner,” a university spokesperson said in a statement.