Stanford Grad Sterling K. Brown Blasts Trump's DEI Attacks at NAACP Event

The multi-award-winning actor used his acceptance speech to address the administration's efforts to roll back diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Sterling K. Brown, the acclaimed actor and Stanford University graduate, used his acceptance speech at the NAACP Image Awards to criticize the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in the federal government. Brown, who has won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards, spoke out against the administration's attacks on critical race theory and its push to terminate DEI initiatives.

Why it matters

Brown's speech highlights the ongoing debate over DEI programs, which have faced increasing scrutiny and opposition from conservative politicians and pundits. As a prominent Black actor, Brown's voice carries weight in this discussion and underscores the importance of maintaining inclusive policies, especially in government institutions.

The details

During his acceptance speech for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, Brown expressed gratitude for being in a room with the Black community, noting that he often finds himself "in predominantly white spaces." He warned that the current administration is "trying to erase critical race theory" and has an "attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice." Earlier in the evening, Brown also paid tribute to the late civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, urging others to ask "what would Jesse do" when confronting injustice.

  • Brown accepted the NAACP Image Award on March 2, 2026.
  • In July 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to terminate "discriminatory" and "illegal" DEI programs in the federal government.

The players

Sterling K. Brown

A multi-award-winning actor and 1998 graduate of Stanford University, known for his roles in shows like "This Is Us" and "The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story."

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who signed an executive order in 2025 to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government.

Rev. Jesse Jackson

A prominent civil rights activist and leader whom Brown honored during the NAACP Image Awards ceremony.

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What they’re saying

“Thank you to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. I spend a lot of time in predominantly white spaces, so it's always a joy to be in a room with us.”

— Sterling K. Brown, Actor (TV Insider)

“We are living under an administration that has an attack on diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, that's trying to erase critical race theory. But like (Samuel L. Jackson) said, they can't erase us because there is no country without us.”

— Sterling K. Brown, Actor (TV Insider)

“All of us in some degree or another have spoken out, marched, protested, raised holy hell inspired by a man who now I'm sure resides with the good Lord in heaven. And even though we can no longer hear his voice, whenever we see that a wrong must be made right, all of us can ask ourselves 'WWJD' — what would Jesse do?”

— Sterling K. Brown, Actor (TV Insider)

The takeaway

Brown's speech underscores the ongoing battle over diversity, equity and inclusion programs, which have become a flashpoint in the nation's political discourse. As a prominent Black actor, his voice carries weight in this debate and highlights the importance of maintaining inclusive policies, especially in government institutions.