by Cynthia A. Baldwin
Regrettably, we now have a President of the United States who appears to believe that diversity, equity and inclusion has no value and that DEI is “illegal.” He signed Executive Order 14151, titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing” on January 20, 2025. Mr. Trump has attempted to equate diversity with lack of merit. That is outrageous. Perhaps Mr. Trump would like to outlaw all of the many contributions made by Black citizens. I will leave it to others to inform him of contributions of other diverse citizens.
First, Mr. Trump, the White House is located on land surveyed by a self-taught Black man who constructed one of the first clocks built in America as well as published an accurate almanac from 1791 to 1802. Mr. Trump, you can thank another Black man, Garrett Morgan, for the secret service being able to drive you around safely since he invented the traffic light as we know it today with a yellow caution light. Another Black man Richard B. Spikes received a patent in 1932 for an automatic car gear shift that led to automatic transmissions, again making it possible for you to be comfortably driven around. Black scientists in many fields made inventions to improve our quality of life and to help save lives. Dr. Charles Drew pioneered ways to process and store blood leading to the creation of a national blood bank. Due to Otis Boykin, a Black man, inventing an improved electrical resistor, the pacemaker was able to be invented. Dr. Patricia Bath, a Black ophthalmologist, invented the Laserphaco Probe, which uses a laser to remove cataracts. Mr. Trump, the White House chef is able to feed you those fabulous meals because Frederick McKinley Jones invented refrigerated shipping which allows for the transport of fresh and frozen foods worldwide. And, of course, Mr. Trump, you must be familiar with the many developments of George Washington Carver, a Black man, who developed numerous products and uses for peanuts, pecans, and sweet potatoes significantly impacting agriculture and American diets. I hear that you also enjoy the occasional potato chip. Say “thank you” to George Speck, also known as George Crum, a famous Black chef in the 19th century. Mr. Trump, do you use the elevators in the White House? Alexander Miles, a Black man, patented the automatic elevator door, improving safety for elevator passengers. Speaking of safety, the gas mask used by fire and police departments was invented by Garrett Morgan, whom you may remember invented the modern traffic light. Mr. Trump, if the White House has central heating, you can thank Alice H. Parker, a Black woman who invented the first furnace to supply central heating for buildings. I’m certain that the White House has extensive security systems. You can thank Marie Van Brittan Brown, a Black nurse, who invented the first home security system which included a sliding camera, television monitors, two-way microphones, a remote-controlled lock, and an alarm button, laying the foundation for modern CCTV security systems. Of course, you like to dress well. You can thank Black inventor George T. Sampson for patenting the automatic clothes dryer in 1892 and Black dressmaker Sarah Boone for patenting the ironing board in the same year. Perhaps your grandchildren have played with a Super Soaker water gun or Nerf gun. Yes, both were invented by a Black man, Dr. Lonnie Johnson.
Mr. Trump, I have barely scratched the surface in listing the number of Black inventors who did miraculous things even when slavery and segregation prevented them from getting the educations available to White people. By the way, Mr. Trump, DEI programs only open the doors for people of color, women, the disabled, etc.; we still have to have the qualifications. The only systems that ever evolved in the United States where one could advance without merit are those available to White people during slavery and segregation (apartheid in South Africa) when Black people were denied by law the ability to compete for positions because of the color of their skin. However, in spite of being denied opportunities, Black people survived and even thrived. The third system which allows people to advance without merit is nepotism, “the practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives, friends, or associates, especially by giving them jobs.” You appear to have familiarity with the latter practice.
So, Mr. Trump, I hope that you can now understand that diversity has always had merit.
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