Mississippi Valley State University @MVSUDEVILS has a proud history of standing up for Black history, equity, and justice. However, accepting an invitation to perform at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a disgraceful betrayal of that legacy. Trump and his administration have worked tirelessly to erase Black history from classrooms, directly opposing the very fight MVSU students took on in 1964 when they boycotted for courses in Black history and access to works by Black authors.

It is shameful for the university’s leadership to celebrate this as a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ instead of recognizing it as an affront to the cultural and historical values of an HBCU. Rather than aligning with a president who has proven his racism through words and policies that harm Black communities, MVSU should prioritize efforts like renaming campus buildings that honor white supremacists such as Walter Sillers, Jr., Fielding Wright, and J.H. White. This decision not only insults the memory of Dr. King but undermines the very mission of HBCUs to uplift and empower Black excellence.