A 10 Part Plan: The attacks on DEI are inseparable from the attacks on democracy
The following 10 pieces will explain why--and what we do about it
Dear colleagues,
Since February of 2024, I have been writing a book about the attacks on DEI that have been happening nationally—a book that I hope to publish sometime in the next 3 years. But as I look around at the bruised and broken parts of DEI laying all around this country, it’s clear to me that this timeline might be too long for the people who are currently wrestling with how to respond to this moment.
Between now and June, I will be releasing short essays on Substack every week. These essays will be cumulative in nature, building on one another as we move toward summer.
Here’s a general plan of what I will cover:
1. The attacks on DEI are inseparable from the attacks on democracy
The attacks on DEI are coming from the same people for the same reasons. You don’t have to love DEI in order to believe democracy is worth protecting. But in order to protect democracy, you have to understand how the anti-DEI campaign has been used as one of many tools for weakening democracy.
2. The history of the anti-DEI campaign
The anti-DEI campaign started five years ago as the anti-Critical Race Theory campaign. It was September 2020—just after the summer of racial reckoning—and it was a strategic response from right wing thinktanks. They were responding to the overwhelming unanimity with which Americans demonstrated widespread popular support for the idea of a healthy, multiracial democracy in which all people are treated equally under the law. I will share details for both the anti-DEI and anti-CRT-campaigns, as well as resources for reading more.
3. DEI is still LEGAL
A panel of the 4th circuit court of appeals this week agreed with a lower court that “DEI is Legal” and that executive orders to the contrary are not.
4. How do we support our students, who feel like the world is ending?
This question really says it all. I'm not sure I have answers, but I am muddling through this currently and look forward to muddling with you. I will share some frameworks that have been helpful for me.
5. Is DEI partisan?
I will look at the challenge of remaining non-partisan, while certain subjects that had never before been partisan—like democracy—are suddenly associated with one particular political party. This has happened with racism and anti-racism as well. Now it’s happening with DEI. How do we talk about DEI without being partisan? I will share many ways of thinking about this, but the most important one is that the election is over—so partisan politics should be too.
6. To keep the name or change it?
Given these attacks on DEI, should schools change the name of DEI? What are the pros and cons?
7. What about pluralism?
What about pluralism? Does it negate DEI? Could it complement it?
8. What skills do pluralism and DEI require?
Both pluralism and DEI require skill building in order to be successful. These skills include:
a. Keeping conflict healthy
b. Dialoguing with difference
c. Establishing non-negotiable values, some of which have been refined and supported by DEI, such as the humanity of all people
9. How do we distinguish good faith concerns that can help us improve from bad faith critiques that seek to destroy?
Plenty of bad actors are working to undermine DEI programs. And yet we need to be able to take feedback from our communities. How do we distinguish between good faith and bad faith concerns? How do we listen to everybody's concerns while doing what it takes to protect all of our students?
10. Where does the idea that “DEI is antisemitic” come from?
This idea came onto the scene in 2021 in an article from the Heritage Foundation. Since that time, it has filtered into popular discourse. How do we respond?
11. Activities!
Some activities to help your teachers build courage in the face of these attacks.
If you have ideas, comments, or additions you’d like to share to improve these posts, please be in touch!
Photo by Ben Collins on Unsplash