National Black Justice Coalition Says SCOTUS Decision to Overturn Student Loan Relief Disproportionately Hurts Black, LGBTQ+ People
CONTACT: Jordan Wilhelmi | jordan@unbendablemedia.com
WASHINGTON — Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Biden administration’s student loan debt relief, Dr. David J. Johns, executive director of the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC), a leading Black LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, issued this statement:
“The Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the Biden administration’s student loan relief policies will burden future generations with debt, and is ignorant of the ever-increasing cost of higher education, which is necessary for achieving economic success and diversity.
“Post-secondary degrees increase lifetime earnings, employability, and life expectancy. For Black LGBTQ+/SGL people, they are often required to unlock the door that leads to the American Dream and provide access to good jobs, healthy and stable living.
“Student loan debt is an urgent crisis that disproportionately burdens Black and LGBTQ+ students, compounding barriers in accessing post-secondary opportunities and achieving equity and justice, more generally. Black students and LGBTQ+ students, especially those who belong to multiple marginalized identities, are more likely to rely on student loans to finance their education. As a result, we often bear a heavier burden of student loan debt, further perpetuating economic and educational inequities.
“Our communities often face intersecting forms of discrimination and systemic disadvantages, restricting access to higher education and economic opportunities. The Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to provide targeted relief for borrowers, including those from marginalized communities, are necessary steps in addressing student loan debt disparities and promoting educational equity. Our democracy will be weakened as a result of this ruling.
“The National Black Justice Coalition calls on lawmakers and the Biden-Harris administration to explore alternative avenues for relieving Black and LGBTQ+ students burdened by student loan debt. Elected and appointed leaders must take swift and decisive action to mitigate the long-term consequences of this decision. We urge comprehensive solutions, including cancellation of interest, increased investment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and other targeted relief programs to end our youngest generation doing the work of the government to keep the higher education sector afloat.”
