Locked Out Once — Let’s Do it Again: The Far Right Strategy to Resegregate America
In the shadowy corners of boardrooms and exclusive private clubs, there exists a sinister strategy, a whispered plot, a dark conspiracy to resegregate America. The perpetrators of this scheme, I can imagine, sit there lamenting, “People of Color, Women, and others are gaining ground.” They view programs aimed at unlocking opportunities and fostering inclusion as direct threats to their entrenched power and privilege. To them, it’s a zero-sum game where they believe they lose when others gain access to America’s economic might and opportunities.
Yet, they conveniently turn a blind eye to the fact that the very groups they claim to assist are making strides in improving the lives of white men as well. They’ve grown “fed up” with the idea of sharing their privilege, power, and wealth with those who don’t fit their narrow mold. Like master chess players, they meticulously plan their moves to convince average working-class individuals, both white and black, that they are victims of these programs.
Their vengeance knows no bounds as marginalized communities challenge the growing wealth divide and demand respect, inclusivity, and equity in the distribution of America’s resources. This necessitates unlocking the doors of opportunity and affording marginalized communities an equal chance to compete in our increasingly diverse society. They seethe with anger as the very systems and practices they put in place face dismantling due to their discriminatory nature. Efforts to ensure full inclusion and opportunity for everyone are met with resistance.
Enter Elon Musk, who, in his recent rant about IBM’s President’s call for accountability in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, cries foul, labeling it as baseless reverse discrimination. Musk, a man who emerged from the ashes of an apartheid system in South Africa, fails to grasp the power of the growing diversity movement. He attempts to dismiss it, but his words fall flat.
What we are witnessing is the unyielding force of diversity, demanding that it be valued and inclusion be fostered. DEI is not a dying cause; it’s the old, conservative, and outmoded way of governing in an inclusive society that is fading into obscurity. Those who adopt a finite mindset and take a myopic, short-term view on DEI will ultimately find themselves on the wrong side of history.
For when DEI loses, American democracy loses with it. The battle for a more inclusive and equitable society is a battle for the very soul of our nation. Those who seek to resegregate America will find themselves on the wrong side of progress, justice, and humanity. Inclusion isn’t a threat; it’s the promise of a better future for all.
