Is DEI the New N-Word?

Sign-Up for a free subscription to The Black Wall Street Times‘ daily newsletter, Black Editors’ Edition (BEE) – our curated news selections & opinions by us for you.

The battle against wokeness and Critical Race Theory has reached new heights as the latest sheriff has strolled into town. Now many in the Black community are wondering if DEI is the new n-word.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are programs and initiatives that work to address unequal representation in education and the workplace. These programs aren’t particularly new, but misinformation about false threats are being circulated by many Republican leaders.

As Americans started their Tuesday morning, they were greeted with news of a bridge collapse in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2020, the predominately Black city elected Brandon Scott as their new mayor.

One Twitter user who has grown a following by sharing inflammatory posts sometimes referred to as “Rage Bait” (content designed to elicit a reaction from viewers) called Scott a “DEI Mayor.” Many were quick to address the blatant racism the user expressed, with one writing, “DEI is basically just a stand-in for the n-word now.” 

Of course, a DEI mayor cannot exist because voters must elect candidates for the position.

Harvard Professor is convinced that DEI is the new n-word and covert racism

In January, amidst a slew of several airplane incidents, a Virgin Airlines flight was grounded when a passenger noticed missing bolts on the plane’s wing. Some took this opportunity to place the blame on the company’s diversity policies. One Twitter user saying “I wished these airline companies would focus on hiring competent people and not worrying about DEI.”

Critics of DEI may believe that they don’t see color or that disparities between racial groups no longer exist. However, research points to the contrary.

Implicit Bias’ Role in Modern Racism 

Psychologists say that racial bias is a deeply subconscious action that people are likely unaware of. When you say you don’t see race, it’s more likely that you don’t see racial bias. Racism doesn’t always stem from hatred but often from a place of discomfort. When most white Americans think of racism they may imagine the Ku Klux Klan but in modern-day, implicit bias is more apparent.   

Implicit bias or stereotyping is when one subconsciously connects certain groups of people to generalized ideas. It can exist between genders, sexualities, or races. Some people believe that women are too emotional, that all Black people enjoy chicken and watermelon, or that gay people are overtly sexual. And while these specific examples aren’t the worst of the worst, they do set the stage for this type of behavior to become normalized in society — sometimes, having dire implications. 

For instance, some medical students believed that Black patients had thicker skin or less sensitive nerve endings than White people. Reports as recent as 2016 documented this.

Moreover, bias can cause disparities in treatment between doctors and patients of different racial groups. Both implicit bias and structural racism contribute to the fact that Black women are three times more likely to die during childbirth. 

As more states join the slate of governments that have passed anti-DEI legislation or policies, the negative side effects of implicit bias may spike once again. 

Related Stories

• What Racism, Systemic-Racism ?and Implicit Biases Look Like
• DEI initiatives banned, University of Oklahoma speaks out
• Op-ed: Inequities in Black birth 
• A White educator’s comfort shouldn’t come before the students
• Tulsa School Board members push back on Ryan Walters

Attacks on DEI Inadvertently Promoting DEI 

In December, Governor Kevin Stitt announced his anti-discrimination Executive Order. One could easily have mistaken it for promoting DEI instead of dismantling it.

“Encouraging our workforce, economy, and education systems to flourish means shifting focus away from exclusivity and discrimination and toward opportunity and merit,” said Stitt in a press release. However, it’s immediately followed by, “We’re taking politics out of education and focusing on preparing students for the workforce.” The juxtaposition of attacking diversity while unintentionally promoting diversity is both humorous and maddening.

OPINION: Why DEI is important to Marginalized Communities

A result that some minorities appreciate from DEI programs is a sense of belonging. One study found that the majority of Americans say that focusing on DEI in the workplace is a good thing. When you work or go to school in a primarily straight or White institution, it’s easy to feel out of place. Having DEI initiatives offers security. Although we represent a smaller group, there are efforts to ensure we have equal opportunities to flourish. It’s not a magic wand that guarantees we’ll make it to the top, but it does offer assurance that we will be in an environment of mutual respect.