by Sean Copeland
For New Pittsburgh Courier
Within the last couple of years, America has seen some alarming choices regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion. Affirmative action and now, DEI bills have been removed from universities, causing a serious uproar amongst what we know in modern times to be lawful and socially acceptable.
As for DEI, which stands for diversity, equity, and inclusion, these programs and policies have been in place to protect women and minorities from discrimination, preferential treatment, and implicit bias in education and the workplace. Such programs allow representation and involvement for people of various ethnic backgrounds. Much like affirmative action, DEI programs have allowed minorities to participate and succeed in education, careers, and initiatives.
The Rise of Anti-DEI Laws
Recently, many states have banned DEI programs inside public colleges and universities. Republicans have taken issue with the programming and have said DEI is ineffective, discriminatory, and a waste of funding. Some have even taken the notion that DEI programs cause more division and discrimination in society. Most notably, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill into law in May 2023 that banned the state’s public colleges and universities from spending money on DEI programs.
According to a May 2023 article from NPR, DeSantis stated, “If you look at the way this has actually been implemented across the country, DEI is better viewed as standing for discrimination, exclusion, and indoctrination. And that has no place in our public institutions.” These remarks were made during a news conference at the New College of Florida in Sarasota.
To date, many institutions across the U.S. have DEI offices and initiatives that serve the purpose of promoting diversity and inclusion amongst faculty, staff, and students. On March 20, Alabama became the latest state to sign an anti-DEI ban into law. Signed by Alabama Governor Kate Ivy, the law has been described as preventing programs or instruction that promote divisive concepts. Unsurprisingly, the new law hasn’t been received well by everyone. Leading up to the signing, Birmingham, Alabama, Mayor Randall Woodfin posted a message expressing his views on the proposed law at the time.
“I have no problem organizing Black parents and athletes to attend other institutions outside of the state where diversity and inclusion are prioritized,” he stated.
Contrary to some beliefs, DEI funding is beneficial to many students as it provides scholarship funding, employment opportunities after college, social support, and an overall sense of safety and representation in this divisive climate. Mental health resources are also valuable to minority students as they are offered a safe space to discuss issues they may face that are unique to their experience.
While Alabama has been the latest state to join the movement to end DEI efforts, to date, over 30 states have passed or at least introduced anti-DEI laws. Nine states have officially passed anti-DEI laws, including Florida, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Indiana, North Dakota, and Wyoming.
In addition to the Black community, DEI laws and initiatives have protected other minority groups, including women, other people of color, LGBTQ+, and disabled communities. Also, while affirmative action served minority groups in their admission processes to enter colleges and universities, DEI laws have ensured that they maintained a happier, more successful, and safer enrollment while also providing resources past their college experience.
Why DEI
Is Necessary
There are many facets to DEI initiatives. For education, it is particularly important to not only advocate for diversity in hiring and programming but also to make progress in the areas of the curriculums that are being taught in these institutions.
There are examples such as teaching a diverse amount of history about various ethnic groups, especially outside of their respective history or heritage months. DEI initiatives extend to the recruitment and retention of an actively diverse student enrollment that speaks to the needs of its environment while also representing how society should prioritize inclusion in the 21st century. Minority population growth in the U.S. is on the incline and is expected to continue.
In January, the Pew Research Center reported that an estimated 47.9 million people self-identified as Black in 2022, making up 14.4 percent of the country’s population. This marks a 32 percent increase since 2000, when there were 36.2 million Black people living in the U.S. Large swaths of Black Americans reside in the South, with Texas boasting a Black population of about 4.2 million. Florida has about 3.9 million Black residents, and Georgia has about 3.7 million, which is third.
Also, Utah experienced its fastest growth in the Black population, with an increase of 86 percent between 2010 and 2022. States, such as Utah, have experienced a surge in Black population growth and traditionally haven’t had many Black citizens.
So, it is particularly telling that anti-DEI laws are being passed in Utah, Texas, and Florida, where this growth is happening. Also, educational attainment in the Black community is on the rise, with 26 percent of Black adults, or 7 million people, having earned at least a bachelor’s degree in 2022. This figure was up from 14.5 percent in 2000. As Black citizens earn more degrees, DEI has become a useful tool in helping them navigate their educational goals.