It’s with deep honor—and a sense of full-circle purpose—that I share this news:
I’ve returned to civil rights leadership with the national NAACP.
I’ll be working alongside the formidable Dr. Adora Obi Nweze, Chair of the National Education Committee, as we expand and execute a bold vision for educational equity across the nation. As someone who has spent his entire career examining and confronting systemic inequities in education, this opportunity is more than professional—it’s personal.
Over the years, I’ve been blessed to serve as the Education Chair and on the Executive Committees for both the California and Kentucky State Conferences of the NAACP. From organizing statewide policy forums, to pushing for accountability in charter school oversight, to advancing equity legislation in states and DC, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of the NAACP to speak truth to power—especially when local communities are at the table shaping the message.
Now, at the national level, we are building something even bigger:
💥 A campaign that doesn’t just defend public education—but reclaims it as a site of justice.
💥 A task force that doesn’t just analyze disparities—but activates communities with solutions.
💥 A movement that centers Black families, educators, and students—not as statistics, but as architects of change.
As a scholar, advocate, and former dean and provost, I’ve often warned that education policy debates are too often cloaked in inequity—driven by agendas that don’t reflect our values or lived realities. That’s why I’m so energized by this new national work to help shape the narrative, challenge regressive reforms like Project 2025, and champion a future where equity is not optional, but essential.
If you’ve followed my journey through research, activism, and public service, you know I don’t believe in sitting on the sidelines. And I certainly don’t believe in top-down solutions. This next chapter with the NAACP will be grounded in community-driven strategies, policy innovation, and truth-telling at every level.
We’ve got work to do—and it’s work worth doing.
Stay tuned here at Cloaking Inequity as the NAACP takes on curriculum bans, fights for inclusive policies, and organizes to ensure every child has the civil right to a high-quality, culturally affirming education.
Onward, with urgency and hope.
— Julian