If the US wants to achieve economic growth, empower the best talent and have a fair and just society for all, it must embrace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). Otherwise, we can simply devolve into a backsliding democracy ruled by a billionaire class that pillages our wealth as it divides us through manufactured culture wars.
On cue, conservatives are blaming DEI for the devastating fires currently ravaging California and for a recent terror attack in New Orleans committed by a US citizen.
If you listen to Donald Trump, Maga Republicans and lazy comedians, DEI is the modern-day villain. It’s a wicked and terrifying Trojan horse of wokeness that is seeking to “replace” Americans and indoctrinate our children with a subversive agenda. It’s allegedly orchestrated by transgender people, immigrants of color, Muslims, Black people, Jewish people and feminists – anyone that isn’t straight, white and Christian. According to the president-elect, the rest of us are “poisoning the blood of our country” and destroying it.
DEI is an easy, direct and convenient way to package all of these fears. If you fall for this narrative, it can be terrifying and feel unfair. Events such as the collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank, the problems with Boeing aircraft and the destruction of the Francis Scott Key bridge in Maryland were blamed on DEI.
This was a con.
Instead of pointing to a corrupt system and deregulation that benefits the wealthy at the expense of many, DEI was seen as the culprit. The bad-faith talking point is that had DEI not existed, these tragedies would not have occurred and real Americans – who are not “woke” – would be safe and economically prosperous.
Unfortunately, the deception works as companies........