The NAACP is calling on Black athletes and consumers to rethink where they spend their time, talent, and money.

By The People’s Paper MS Staff

The NAACP on Tuesday launched a national campaign urging Black athletes, fans, and families to withhold support from public universities in states where leaders have moved to weaken Black voting power.

The campaign, called “Out of Bounds,” targets flagship athletic programs in eight states, including Mississippi, where schools generate more than $100 million annually in sports revenue while state lawmakers redraw political maps that civil rights leaders say dilute Black representation.

The push follows a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Louisiana v. Callais. The court’s 6 to 3 ruling further weakened what remains of the Voting Rights Act and prompted swift action from lawmakers in several Southern states.

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said the response from those states was immediate and alarming.

“What these states have done is not a policy disagreement. It is a sprint to erase Black political power,” Johnson said. “The same institutions that depend on Black athletes to fill their stadiums and bank accounts cannot stay silent while Black communities lose their voice.”

The NAACP identified Tennessee, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, and Georgia as priority states. The organization said flagship universities in those states generate billions of dollars in combined athletic revenue.

The campaign centers on a single message directed at top high school recruits. The NAACP is asking them to delay or withhold commitments to major college football and basketball programs in those states until fair congressional maps are restored.

Leaders are also urging current college athletes to use their influence. That includes speaking out on voting rights, questioning university leadership, and exploring options such as the NCAA transfer portal.

Tylik McMillan, national director of the NAACP Youth and College Division, said today’s athletes have more power than previous generations.

“Your talent is yours, and so is your community’s political power,” McMillan said. “The state celebrating your touchdown is the same one shaping your grandmother’s voting district. We are asking young people to see that connection and act on it.”

The campaign also calls on fans, alumni, and donors to stop buying tickets and merchandise tied to targeted programs. Instead, the NAACP encourages supporters to redirect spending to historically Black colleges and universities, including athletics, scholarships, and band programs.

The organization said the campaign will continue until states adopt stronger voting protections, restore districts that reflect Black populations, and commit to transparent redistricting processes.

The campaign’s message is direct: No representation. No recruitment. No revenue.