DEI programs weathered a myriad of attacks this year, with more to come in 2025

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Posted on 12/29/2024 6:33:47 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer

One by one, diversity, equity and inclusion programs at some of the country’s biggest companies fell apart in 2024, with signs that efforts to reverse DEI initiatives will only ramp up in 2025.

This year saw the rise in prominent figures like Elon Musk and Lululemon founder Chip Wilson, among others, who vocally pushed against DEI initiatives. Major companies, including Walmart, Lowe’s, Ford and Toyota, heeded the calls and dialed back their DEI programs.

But with President-elect Donald Trump and his administration vowing to wipe out federally funded diversity programs, the future of DEI is precarious.

Nika White, whose company specializes in DEI, said the field has had a challenging year.

“The rhetoric around banning DEI programs in corporate and academic settings, especially in the context of the broader political climate, often ignores the reality that such programs are designed not to ‘lower standards’ but to raise them by ensuring that everyone — regardless of background — has an equal opportunity to contribute and succeed,” she said. “These attacks are often rooted in anti-Black racism,” White said.

“Billionaire business owners wielding influence to curtail DEI initiatives often do so under the guise of ‘colorblindness’ or ‘meritocracy,’ arguing that DEI programs prioritize identity over skill. They undermine the progress made over the past few decades, creating a chilling effect that could further polarize our society, limiting the ability of organizations to have open, honest conversations about race, equity and inclusion — conversations that are critical in moving us forward as a nation.”

She added that demonizing DEI “fails to recognize the systemic barriers that many marginalized groups face in accessing opportunities and thriving in environments where they are not valued or represented.”

If 2025 will be the year DEI dies, as some hope, it seems it will take a herculean effort..

(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...

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2 posted on 12/29/2024 6:35:15 AM PST by jagusafr ( )

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