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DEI: The Trojan Horse of Far-Right Extremists and Neo-Segregationists

Effenus Henderson
5 min readJun 28, 2024

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Photo by Jez Timms on Unsplash

Introduction: The Trojan Horse and Its Modern Parallels in DEI

The term “Trojan Horse” originates from the ancient Greek myth of the Trojan War, as detailed in Homer’s epic, “The Iliad.” According to legend, after a prolonged and unsuccessful siege of Troy, the Greeks devised a cunning plan. They constructed a large wooden horse, hiding soldiers inside. The Greeks pretended to retreat, leaving the horse as a peace offering. The Trojans, believing their enemy had surrendered, brought the horse into their city. Under the cover of night, the Greek soldiers emerged from the horse, opened the gates for their returning army, and ultimately conquered Troy.

Today, “Trojan Horse” symbolizes any deceptive tactic where a seemingly benign entity masks a hidden threat or agenda. This metaphor aptly describes the current challenges faced by Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Far-right extremists and neo-segregationists have weaponized DEI, using it as a Trojan Horse to push back against progressive public policies and maintain existing power structures.

Defining the “Army” Inside the Trojan Horse

The modern Trojan Horse of DEI hides an “army” of far-right extremists…

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Effenus Henderson
Effenus Henderson

Written by Effenus Henderson

President and CEO of HenderWorks Consulting and Co-Founder of the Institute for Sustainable Diversity and Inclusion. Convener, ISO Working Group, DEI

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