<
https://theconversation.com/yes-efforts-to-eliminate-dei-programs-are-rooted-in-racism-227028>
"Right-wing activists who have long criticized liberalism and “wokeness” in
higher education and helped force the resignation of Claudine Gay, Harvard
University’s first African American president, have now set their sights on
ending the diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, programs that these
activists claim helped place figures like Gay in her job in the first place.
Christopher Rufo, the conservative activist who played a pivotal role in
forcing Gay’s resignation, stated this view bluntly on X – formerly known as
Twitter– following Gay’s ouster: “Today, we celebrate victory. Tomorrow, we get
back to the fight. We must not stop until we have abolished DEI ideology from
every institution in America.”
The DEI initiatives and programs at the center of these controversies aim to
help organizations identify and more effectively tackle disparities or
inequities in their organizations.
In the past year, a number of states have begun to dismantle their DEI
programs. Alabama, Utah, Texas and Florida have all passed and signed into law
anti-DEI legislation ranging from prohibiting diversity training to terminating
all positions associated with DEI efforts. Florida lawmakers have restricted
the teaching of what they call racially “divisive” subject matter in public
schools, colleges and universities. Legislatures in more than two dozen
additional states are considering similar measures.
Critics of these measures say they are racist. DEI opponents are quick to deny
this.
Is opposition to DEI programs unrelated to racism? Or does racism play an
important role in opposition to DEI programs?
We are survey researchers who study how racial attitudes affect Americans’
attitudes toward public policies. In a recent poll, we investigated what, if
any, influence racism may have on public opinion toward DEI programs."
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
