What Republicans really mean when they blame 'DEI' | Mehdi Hasan
www.theguardian.com
Referencing DEI is the new rightwing abstraction deployed by Republicans to conceal their anti-Black racism

Summary

The term “DEI” (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) has become a coded way for Republicans to conceal their anti-Black racism, echoing past racist dog whistles.

This parallels with Lee Atwater’s 1981 admission that conservatives used abstract terms like “states’ rights” to mask racism.

Today, figures like Alina Habba, Tim Burchett, and far-right influencers use “DEI hire” to discredit qualified Black figures.

The media’s failure to challenge this rhetoric allows racism to persist, making “DEI” a modern substitute for explicit racial slurs.

  • Carmakazi@lemmy.world
    25·
    1 month ago

    The insinuation that if you see any woman or person of color in a position of power, prestige, or even competence, they got there because of identity politics and not their own merit, is directly bigoted, not even concealed by the first or second degree. The corollary, of course, is that you can only trust white men to do these important jobs correctly.

    • Naz@sh.itjust.works
      5·
      1 month ago

      This idea is so gross that I don’t even want to entertain it mentally.

      Thank you for your lucid and crystalline explanation though, internet stranger.

    • snakedrake@lemmy.world
      0·
      1 month ago

      Isn’t this why DEI needs to be pulled back though?

      People of color and women do get their status on their own but the policy of DEI implies that they got additional assistance even if they didn’t. This policy robs them of their achievements and it generates as much resentment towards protected groups as it provides protection. You can’t just tell the people not to feel resentment, or you’ll get republicans in office forever. We should start advocating for class based workplace assistance rather than dividing ourselves up by race and sex. You’ll help out basically the same people, but you’ll get class solidarity.

  • Yodan@lemm.eeEnglish
    1·
    1 month ago

    DEI, Woke, Left, Commie, etc are all the same word to them. There will be a new one too don’t worry. It always means “stuff I don’t personally like for either a religious or hateful reason and you can’t convince me otherwise” and it’s just a boogeyman of stories and ideas that never actually happen irl but somehow get quoted and shared around as if it were a real thing and then uninformed people get scared and vote for strong daddy man.

    It’s so dumb and telegraphed, make it stop already.

    • Dagwood222@lemm.ee
      1·
      1 month ago

      Meanwhile, people on the Left will spend weeks arguing the difference between Socialist and Social Democrat.