In the not-too-distant past,
Diversity and Inclusion positions were not
taken seriously. Corporations, universities
and the government used the offices or lone
officer to check the box as evidence that they
were addressing the issues of racial and
gender discrimination. Something intriguing
has happened in the last several years:
external pressure calling for more
accountability and DEI personnel actually
striving to hold institutions accountable. The
Right now considers DEI or the “woke” movement
to be a threat to white domination.
The U.S. has not seen this kind
of whitelash against Blackness since
Reconstruction. The attacks on Black history
and Black curriculum. The attacks on Black
bodies. The attacks on Black civil liberties.
Attacks, attack, attacks.
Colleges and universities have
experienced serious setbacks based upon the
Republican agenda. In the last year or so,
some 40 anti-DEI bills have been introduced
across the country targeting higher education
institutions. These racist jackals received a
big boost from the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling
to overturn affirmative action.
Last year, Florida governor Ron
DeSantis signed a bill banning the use of
higher ed funds to go towards diversity. The
Wisconsin state legislature used another
arm-twisting tactic. It held funding to the
University of Wisconsin system hostage until
it agreed to cut its DEI programs.
The impact on Black women in
academia has made headlines. Claudine Gay’s
humiliating fall from grace at Harvard
University was jubilantly counted as a victory
by conservatives. Add as a casualty the
suicide of Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey at
Lincoln University, an HBCU headed by a white
president whose bullying tactics of the
vice-president of student affairs put him on
administrative leave.
The anti-DEI is permeating all
aspects of civil life including philanthropy.
A recent article in the Chronicle of
Philanthropy blasted the headline, “Racial
Justice Programs Under Fire: Foundations
Running Scared When They Should Double Down.”
The article is responding to how the Right has
twisted the narrative of racial justice to one
of dangerous reverse discrimination. The
chilling effect is forcing some social justice
organizations and agencies to avoid certain
language triggers, like ‘Black-led’ or ‘voting
rights.’
The various sectors of the Right
have consolidated and been given their
respective assignments. This was apparent when
billionaire investor, William Ackman, led the
attack on Claudine Gay.
The brutal murder of George
Floyd in 2020 by Minneapolis police rightfully
ignited a firestorm of protests across the
world. In its traditional reactive response,
corporate America expressed its public
commitment to DEI. A whole lot of money was
thrown around (mostly for advertising and
self-promoting) and a plethora of empty
promises were made. The term Diversity,
Inclusion and Equity became a buzzword as
corporate and civic leaders engaged in
superficial changes both in their own
backyards and in the communities around them.
In 2024, the lack of progress in racial equity
speaks for itself.
For those of us of African
descent, this is way more than a trendy
campaign that is being met with repressive
hammers. The attacks are not just on a
movement for diversity and inclusion, they are
attacks on the very existence of Black people
in this country.
If we are to be successful in
beating back the Right’s aggressive strategy
to neutralize blackness, our purpose has to be
focused, and our organizing energy must exceed
theirs. Our allies must be steadfast and not
waver under the bullying tactics that beat
back the gains of Reconstruction. Black people
understand what the future looks like if we
don’t fight like our lives depend on it. We
will determine the outcomes of the Third
Reconstruction.
