Bye-bye, DEI Pt. 2
Almost a year later since my original post and a full assault on DEI has emerged
Video courtesy Mikhail Nilov
On March 21, 2024, my last recent post, I wrote about the war Republicans were waging on DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) initiatives.
Never in my wildest dreams, did I expect America to elect a Republican sweep—Executive, Legislative, Judicial branches of federal, state, and local levels of government—in confirmation of dismantling, not only what they call “woke agendas,” but also rejecting the strides we’ve made with race, culture, sexual orientation, gender, disability, etc. in the past 75 years to address inequity in all these areas of life.
2024 election grumbles aside, it feels like rejection of a culture that doesn’t celebrate white supremacy or wealth.
95% of Trump’s cabinet (at least) is made up of white people. Perhaps 25% are women. (He has nominated and appointed significantly more women than in his first term.) He’s got a handful of POC (people of color) surrounding him—last I read, there were 3 (1 Black and 2 Hispanic)—but the addition of Kash Patel for FBI director would bump that number up to 4. (Those are the only POC I’m aware of currently.) I don’t know of a single one of them who doesn’t have at least seven-to-nine digits in wealth.
Trump promised in his inauguration speech:
National unity is now returning to America, and confidence and pride is soaring like never before in everything we do. … My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier. That’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier.
But also:
As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders: male and female.
You know what, though? If, somehow, Trump manages to accomplish unity among Americans (which includes trans people), I wouldn’t be mad. Seriously. If he could do that, then yes, that would be a TREMENDOUS feat. Yuge.
But I don’t see that happening. Ever. In fact, I see division, more than ever, under Trump v.2. It’s happening in my home as I type this.
I don’t see America being “great again.” A president, who espouses hate and wages war on everyone who is non-white and non-hetero, will never make any nation—let alone our “melting pot”—great.