Harvard University has been accused of hosting and supporting a music business program that discriminates on the basis of race, according to a Thursday civil rights complaint obtained by the Daily Caller News Foundation.
Mark Perry, Senior Fellow at Do No Harm, a medical watchdog group, filed a civil rights complaint against Harvard University for its alleged involvement in No Label Academy, a 10-day music business course that is open exclusively to individuals of color, according to the civil rights complaint obtained by the DCNF. The complaint, filed to the Boston Office for Civil Rights, notes that the program is “open to all BIPOC [black, indigenous, people of color] individuals interested in music business” and hosted by the university on its campus. (RELATED: ‘It’s Federal Law’: Economics Professor Holds University Officials’ Feet To The Fire Through Civil Rights Complaints)
“In violation of Title VI, this program discriminates on the basis of skin color by operating exclusively for BIPOC individuals only and illegally excluding and discriminating against non-BIPOC individuals on the basis of their race, color, or national origin,” the complaint alleges. “Several recent news reports document the University’s support, connection and partnership with a program that will be racially segregated and be hosted by the University on its campus in the fall.”
Several articles about the program have documented Harvard University’s involvement, noting that the course will take place at the University’s North West Lab, the civil rights complaint shows. Another article stated that the program is able to take place with “the support of the Hutchins Center for African & African American Research and Harvard Art Museums at Harvard.”
A text update from the program sent to those looking to apply states, “thanks for your interest in No Label Academy at Harvard,” the complaint alleged.
@Harvard and its @HutchinsCenter & @HarvArtMuseums are partnering with, supporting & hosting @IDK‘s @LabelNoAcademy‘s racially-segregated BIPOC-only music program in violation of Title VI’s prohibition of racial discrimination. So I filed this complaint:https://t.co/lBeNNuc0Kg pic.twitter.com/oJ71wv7uVZ
— Mark J. Perry (@Mark_J_Perry) June 2, 2023
“We hope our curriculum, coupled with the lessons from actual practitioners, continues to shed light on the need for increased equity and helps inspire more BIPOC to aspire for a career in the music business,” Marcelo HD and Miles Weddle, co-founders of No Label, told Remixd Magazine, a music publication.
Universities around the country are pushing different race-based initiatives; a civil rights complaint was filed against the University of South Carolina for allegedly planning to host a program open only to students of specific races and ethnicities. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened an investigation into the University of California at San Francisco’s alleged creation of “Racial Affinity Caucusing Groups” in January.
Perry filed a civil rights complaint against Harvard University in 2021 alleging its partnership with No Label Academy, the civil rights complaint stated. Following the complaint, the program modified its website to no longer note that the course was being held at Harvard University, Campus Reform reported.
“In addition to the University hosting the illegal discriminatory program on its campus for 9 days at its Northwest Labs facility No Label Academy is receiving support from the University’s Hutchins Center for African & African American Research and Harvard Art Museums,” the complaint alleged. “Further, the University is allowing No Label Academy to promote the BIPOC-only program using its name, academic reputation, and intellectual property (all of which are developed by the University and supported with federal funds).”
No Label Academy and Harvard University did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
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