CBCF Expresses Deep Concern on SCOTUS Ruling on Affirmative Action

 

 June 29, 2023 Press Releases Affirmative Action CBCF Education U.S. Supreme Court

For Immediate Release
June 29, 2023

Media Contact
Yolanda Raine
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
202-809-2011
yraine@cbcfinc.org

Nicole Austin-Hillery, President and CEO, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, issued the following statement on U.S. Supreme Court Decision on the Use of Affirmative Action in Higher Education

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) expresses deep concern and profound disappointment in the US Supreme Court’s decision to end affirmative action as we know it in the college admissions process. This decision overturns years of precedent and undermines decades of progress made towards achieving racial equity and promoting diversity in our educational institutions, a core part of CBCF’s mission.

Affirmative action has been a critical tool in addressing historical injustices and systemic barriers faced by underrepresented communities, particularly Black Americans. It has provided a pathway for equal access to education and employment opportunities that were previously denied due to discrimination and prejudice. By dismantling affirmative action policies, we risk eroding the progress we have made towards creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

The CBCF firmly believes that diversity in our educational institutions and workplaces is not only a moral imperative but also a vital component of a thriving democracy. Race-conscious admissions policies have been instrumental in fostering diverse learning environments and producing invaluable educational benefits for all students, demonstrated by decades of research, which the Supreme Court disregards. Racially diverse campuses enrich educational experiences and outcomes, increase and improve civic engagement, and better prepare students to navigate an increasingly diverse workforce. CBCF, through our Leadership Institute, has robust internship, fellowship, and scholarship programs because we believe the same. Today’s decision ensures that opportunities for future leaders who are yet to be known have been severely diminished.

Ending the use of race-based admissions policies in higher education will have far-reaching consequences, exacerbating existing disparities, and perpetuating inequality. While many believe these policies are no longer necessary, the data show otherwise, as seen in the state of Michigan, for example: Black undergraduate student enrollment saw a 44 percent drop after race-conscious admissions decisions were banned. As Justice Jackson writes in her poignant dissent in the University of North Carolina case, “deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life…race still matters to the lived experiences of all Americans in innumerable ways, and today’s ruling makes things worse, not better.” It is crucial that we continue to pursue policies and initiatives that promote equal opportunities for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, or other background.

The CBCF remains committed to advocating for policies that uplift marginalized communities and eradicate systemic discrimination. We will continue to work tirelessly with lawmakers, civil rights organizations, and community leaders to address the challenges presented by this decision and fight for justice, equality, and inclusion for all.

We urge policymakers, educators, and advocates to come together and explore alternative strategies that can effectively advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in our educational institutions and workplaces. By working collaboratively, we can ensure that every American has a fair chance to succeed.

###

About the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation

The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation (CBCF) is a nonprofit organization focused on advancing the global Black community by developing leaders, informing policy, and educating the public. Through its scholarships, internships, and fellowships, the CBCF equips young leaders with the skills and knowledge to address the challenges facing Black communities. To learn more, visit www.cbcfinc.org.

Supreme Court Decision May Help Radio Halt Pending ASCAP–BMI Rate-Setting Appeal

 

Story by Inside RadioWritten by Kevin Dietsch

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Linkedin
• Email
• Print
• Save

The U.S. Supreme Court has just given the radio industry a new argument in its effort to stop the rate-setting proceedings for ASCAP and BMI from moving forward while an appeals court decides whether fees for the two performance rights organizations should be set at the same time. The Radio Music Licensing Committee has asked a district court to hold off on moving forward with the rate-setting process until its appeal of a lower court decision that said the two should be separated is heard. But ASCAP and BMI are pressing a New York judge to kickstart the process, saying the effort has already been slowed by a year’s worth of delays.

What has the RMLC seeing an opening is the Supreme Court decision released Friday. In Coinbase v. Bielski, the Supreme Court said that a district court must stay its proceeding while an appeal is ongoing. Writing for the majority in the 5-4 decision, Justice Brett Kavanaugh called such a move “common sense” that most courts already practice.

The specifics of the RMLC case may be different from the one the Supreme Court just decided. But the committee says the basic legal process is “very similar” with regard to whether the radio royalty rate-setting process should be decided in one or two separate courtrooms.

“The Court’s decision, therefore, provides additional support for the RMLC’s position – that it makes no sense for trial to go forward while the court of appeals cogitates on whether there should be one,” the RMLC said in a letter filed with the court.

The trade group says the same issues of “judicial efficiency and resources” are at play as in the Coinbase decision, with the Supreme Court reasoning that “allowing a case to proceed simultaneously in the district court and the court of appeals creates the possibility that the district court will waste scarce judicial resources—which could be devoted to other pressing criminal or civil matters.”

The RMLC says the Supreme Court decision is so cut and dry that no hearings are even needed, although it said it is “ready and willing” to participate in oral arguments if District Court Judge John Cronan says they are needed.

BMI has called requests to delay the rate-setting “unreasonable” and argues that no time should be wasted splitting its case from that of rival ASCAP. While it has not yet responded to the RMLC’s latest argument, the radio group looks to head off any attempt by the music organizations to suggest the Supreme Court decision should be narrowly applied only to cases where a federal law authorizes an appeal.

Broadcasters filed a notice of appeal earlier this month with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit seeking to overturn a district court ruling that said, under federal law, the two rate-setting proceedings must go forward separately. The RMLC had been asking a judge to consolidate the rate-setting for ASCAP and BMI. In doing so, it invoked the Music Modernization Act. The RMLC said the 2018 law changed how the federal judges that oversee the rate-setting cases are reviewed, arguing the new law ended the historical requirement for one designated judge to hear all ASCAP-related claims and a different judge to hear all BMI-related claims.

The move is not just a way to cut down on the radio industry’s legal expenses. The RMLC says it would allow the court to determine “reasonable” license fees to be paid to songwriters.

But the two performance rights organizations see an ulterior motive at work, arguing that by pitting them against one another it will limit the size of any rate increase they are able to extract from radio stations in the new deal that will cover the license period Jan. 1, 2022, through Dec. 31, 2026. ASCAP and BMI say the radio industry’s use of the Music Modernization Act to tie them together is a “gross mischaracterization” of the law and accused broadcasters of trying to create a loophole that does not exist.

While the radio industry’s appeal is pending in the Second Circuit and the rate-setting proceeding goes forward, the RMLC has interim deals with both ASCAP and BMI. They kept the previous rates in effect. That could mean stations will be due a refund if a lower rate is set or owe ASCAP or BMI additional money if rates go up.

Tyler Perry makes history as the first Black man to buy two TV networks - BET and VH1

Tyler Perry makes history as the first Black man to buy two TV networks, as he purchased controlling interests in BET and VH1 

Story by HHV Editor • \\

Tyler Perry buys the BET and VH1 networks for $400 million Tyler Perry buys the BET and VH1 networks for $400 million © Provided by Hip Hop Vibe 

Tyler Perry buys the BET and VH1 networks for $400 million Tyler Perry has been working longer than most realize and he has a billion dollar empire. It all started with Perry’s stage plays. After a decade of doing plays, Tyler Perry released Diary of a Mad Black Woman with Lionsgate distributing the film. That deal led to a $200 million sitcom deal with TBS. In addition, he had a very lucrative first look movie deal with Lionsgate. 

During that first decade, all of his films grossed hundreds of millions of dollars. As a result, Viacom came with a deal where they paid Perry $150 million a year to create content. 

Now, Tyler Perry has purchased BET and VH1 from them. Tyler Perry always had ambitions of owning his own television network. In 2007, Perry launched his own online network, which he called Tyler TV. Later, he announced his ambitions to form his TPTV network, which was during his time working with TBS. 

In 2012, Tyler Perry left his deal with TBS and began producing primetime soap operas for the OWN network and Discovery networks. After seven years, he joined Viacom with a unique deal with BET and BET+. Tyler Perry expressed interest in buying BET, when Paramount Global announced they were selling their majority stake in the company. Some reorganizing of the company has now placed VH1 into the BET Media Group, which Tyler Perry has now purchased. As a result, VH1 is now owned by Perry, in addition to BET. This makes Perry the first Black man to purchase two major cable channels. Also, this explains why “Love & Hip Hop” moved to MTV. 

 Source: EURWEB