Jarvis DeBerry’s recent article for MSNBC provides a critical examination of the growing skepticism surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. I agree with his key insight: the real problem is not DEI itself, but the systemic racism that DEI programs aim to address.
DeBerry rightly points out that both Black and White Americans have bought into the narrative promoted by conservatives that DEI programs are somehow detrimental to society. This view distracts from the real issue, allowing systemic racism to persist unchecked. I completely agree with DeBerry on this point.
Trump Targets Blacks With His DEI War
However, there is an additional layer to this discussion that must be addressed, particularly within the Black community. While many people have internalized the false narrative pushed by white conservatives that DEI is harmful, another misleading idea is gaining traction among some Black Americans: that Trump’s war on DEI doesn’t harm Black people because it primarily benefits White women. This view is not only flawed—it’s dangerous.
This perception needs to be corrected. I offer the following corrections:
First, DEI has undeniably benefited Black Americans. It has helped increase Black representation across various sectors, including the federal workforce, where Black women were disproportionately represented due to DEI programs. Trump’s ongoing dismantling of DEI initiatives has already caused job losses for Black women, leading to a rise in unemployment, especially among Black females. This is not just a theoretical concern; it’s happening right now.
Second, dismissing Trump’s anti-DEI campaign as irrelevant to Black people misses the point: Trump is not targeting White women—he is targeting Black people. While the attack on DEI might seem to focus on one group, it is part of a larger effort to undermine policies that have benefited Black Americans. The truth is, Trump’s actions are directly harming Black communities, and this cannot be overlooked or dismissed.
The most dangerous aspect of this entire situation is how Trump and the MAGA movement have framed DEI as “illegal.” By doing so, they’ve connected civil rights to something perceived as illegal, contaminating the public’s perception. This framing allows Trump and his allies to argue that civil rights protections—hard-won over decades—are somehow illegitimate. By attacking DEI, Trump is laying the groundwork to dismantle civil rights altogether, undermining the very protections that have allowed Black Americans to make progress.
To emphasize, DEI is not the problem—systemic racism is the real culprit. Mr. DeBerry made this point clear when he said that Black Americans “should give up the dream that there’s some set of conditions under which the accomplishments of, say, a Black woman engineer will be universally accepted as valid.”
Most importantly, we must remember that Trump’s war on DEI is not just an attack on one program—it is a direct assault on the civil rights protections that benefit Black Americans. His goal is not simply to demonize DEI, but to undermine the entire justification for civil rights. By framing civil rights as “illegal,” he is paving the way for a broader rollback of civil rights protections that have been critical in addressing the very real, ongoing effects of racism in America. This explains why he recently released the MLK files, possibly as an attempt to discredit Dr. King, the movement he led, and the achievements he obtained.
Stay Woke!
