Boston University’s Center for Antiracist Research (CAR), founded by professional race grifter Ibram X. Kendi in 2020, is set to close when its charter expires on June 30, 2025. The center currently employs 12 staff members who will remain until the closure. This decision follows a period of declining contributions and support, which began in 2023 as donors questioned the center’s output.
In September 2023, CAR announced a strategic shift due to waning public support, resulting in the elimination of 19 staff positions. Despite allegations of financial mismanagement, a Boston University audit found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Kendi, known for works like “How to Be an Antiracist,” has been appointed as the director of the newly established Howard University Institute for Advanced Study in Washington, D.C. In a statement, he expressed pride in CAR’s accomplishments and gratitude to its community, stating, “I feel honored to have been able to do this work with you over the last five years.”
CAR was established in the wake of George Floyd’s death and aimed to translate antiracist ideas into action through research, policy, narrative, and advocacy efforts. However, it faced criticism for not producing tangible research outputs despite receiving significant funding.
The center sponsored initiatives such as developing an antiracism curriculum, hosting an antiracist book festival, and providing antiracism training for the workforce.
As CAR prepares to close, Kendi’s move to Howard University marks a new chapter in his academic career, focusing on interdisciplinary studies of importance to the global African diaspora.