What a great explanation of DEI. The term “white lash” explains quite a bit.
I also really like your comments about fear, because it seems to me that fear is the only policy conservatives have in their playbook. They hammer their fear based narratives daily through Fox News, One News Nation, and a host of podcasts by the likes of Charlie Kirk and Joe Rogan. The list of things they are afraid of pretty much encompasses the whole of society: people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, public education, renewable energy, empathy, and anyone who isn’t a white Christian nationalist. It must be exhausting being that afraid all of the time.
I recently read an article and the writer claimed that the only DEI in the current administration is Deny, Exclude, and Ignore - seems pretty accurate.
Two steps forward, ten steps back. The whitelash you reference Dr. Derrick Bell calls "racial realism," peaks of racial progress followed by racial backlash from the dominant culture. In his 1992 Connecticut Law Review article, Bell states that "short-lived victories slide into irrelevance as racial patterns adapt in ways that maintain White dominance." What is happening now post the 2020 racial awakening in this country is a perfect example of this. While everyone was so "woke" in 2020, I wondered how long it would take for folks to go back to sleep. Didn't take long at all.
Thanks, as usual for a clear explanation of a complex, ongoing issue. There is a backlash against women in our country also. The fear mentioned in the article also applies to the fear of women gaining power, fighting for their reproductive freedom, asking for fair and equal pay, seeking opportunities for advancement into the white male dominated corporate boardrooms, support for reasonably priced childcare and respect. Our current vice president has insulted women who don’t have children. There’s a movement to encourage women to go back to their traditional role at home. Many churches do not allow women to fully participate by denying them meaningful roles in their church. Of course the situation is worse for women of color. As the daughter raised by a single mother I saw her being denied promotions in favor of a white “family man”. By a miracle of my mother somehow finding a way to see I went to college (something denied most women of her generation). Without a state program for scholarships for low income students which helped pay my tuition and a government grant for low income students that helped with expenses, loans for both me and Mom, jobs while attending school I earned my college degree. The state and government scholarships are no longer available. The official state university in NJ in 1965 was for men only. The state “teacher colleges “ were for women and a few stray men. Happily the NJ state university, Rutgers, is coed.
DEI, Woke, and Critical Race Theory are God's creation. Colossians 1:16. The New Covenant, is the history of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. National Israel rejected the inclusion of Gentiles until Acts 10:28-34. I stress the necessity of reading all of Dr. Tisby's books concerning the tragedy and blight of racism. Share them with friends and neighbors. Research Hayes and Mary Turner, 1918 Georgia. Pray that God reopens the eyes of those professing Christians who thrive on hate!
I've been slow to recognize the whitelashes. Raised in white Christian nationalism (wCN), I think of "some "white-dominance-heart-reveal" that spills out like some ash before the volcano erupts for the white-take-over--witnessed today with the corrupt U.S. regime in 2025. For me, I now recognize the spewing of some ashes, which followed the election of Pres Obama, though some folks expected a white-lash revolution right then. During the 2020 social justice-blip, following the murder of George Floyd, I personally learned from "devout Christian" family & friends that they were upset with my social justice actions & they only supported "color-blindness" since slavery in the U.S. was abolished so long ago. Within 5 years, their very sentiments have overtaken the U.S. with the corrupt regime's white-centering & Trump-worshipping. I think the white-centering/white-dominance goes deep & wide & is more baked into generations of hearts & churches than I first saw after Pres. Obama's election.
The Christian Scriptures tel the story how Saul went from murdering people to becoming preacher-Paul & writing several of the Pauline letters. So despite the depth & breadth of racism & the root of greed, I pray my heart keeps changing & growing. I pray similarly for friends, family, generations & our leaders too. Picture ______ (fill in the blank) becoming Saul-Paul!
For decades, my mornings have begun with unbelievably strong coffee, worship music and reading my Bible and usually last for 60-90 minutes before making breakfast. Over the years, I've become quite humbled during those times by what I've read and heard. This morning your Footnotes post )in the Preamble) and Heather Richardson's Letters from an American seem to have come together in perfect unity. Her letter focused on Dr. King and the events of during the spring and summer events of the civil rights unrest the began in the 60's and continue into now. The basis of DEI at its core is not just something that comes from the mind of men. It is the aroma, if you will, of God. Diverse in the teaching of of three in one, the Trinity. Simply put, some of us understand that and others are threatened by it. In other words, "..the world will hate you." I appreciate you, Jemar.
What a great explanation of DEI. The term “white lash” explains quite a bit.
I also really like your comments about fear, because it seems to me that fear is the only policy conservatives have in their playbook. They hammer their fear based narratives daily through Fox News, One News Nation, and a host of podcasts by the likes of Charlie Kirk and Joe Rogan. The list of things they are afraid of pretty much encompasses the whole of society: people of color, women, LGBTQ individuals, public education, renewable energy, empathy, and anyone who isn’t a white Christian nationalist. It must be exhausting being that afraid all of the time.
I recently read an article and the writer claimed that the only DEI in the current administration is Deny, Exclude, and Ignore - seems pretty accurate.
Two steps forward, ten steps back. The whitelash you reference Dr. Derrick Bell calls "racial realism," peaks of racial progress followed by racial backlash from the dominant culture. In his 1992 Connecticut Law Review article, Bell states that "short-lived victories slide into irrelevance as racial patterns adapt in ways that maintain White dominance." What is happening now post the 2020 racial awakening in this country is a perfect example of this. While everyone was so "woke" in 2020, I wondered how long it would take for folks to go back to sleep. Didn't take long at all.
Thanks, as usual for a clear explanation of a complex, ongoing issue. There is a backlash against women in our country also. The fear mentioned in the article also applies to the fear of women gaining power, fighting for their reproductive freedom, asking for fair and equal pay, seeking opportunities for advancement into the white male dominated corporate boardrooms, support for reasonably priced childcare and respect. Our current vice president has insulted women who don’t have children. There’s a movement to encourage women to go back to their traditional role at home. Many churches do not allow women to fully participate by denying them meaningful roles in their church. Of course the situation is worse for women of color. As the daughter raised by a single mother I saw her being denied promotions in favor of a white “family man”. By a miracle of my mother somehow finding a way to see I went to college (something denied most women of her generation). Without a state program for scholarships for low income students which helped pay my tuition and a government grant for low income students that helped with expenses, loans for both me and Mom, jobs while attending school I earned my college degree. The state and government scholarships are no longer available. The official state university in NJ in 1965 was for men only. The state “teacher colleges “ were for women and a few stray men. Happily the NJ state university, Rutgers, is coed.
Thank you Jemar. I appreciate you
Who's going tell DJT that his merch, King James Version Bible, has the forbidden "E" word? (Or, is his merch altered for such a word like federal websites & programs? https://www.biblegateway.com/quicksearch/?quicksearch=equity&version=KJV
Jemar - This Onion article reminded me of you. DHS Begins National Registry Of Duolingo Users https://theonion.com/dhs-begins-national-registry-of-duolingo-users/
DEI, Woke, and Critical Race Theory are God's creation. Colossians 1:16. The New Covenant, is the history of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. National Israel rejected the inclusion of Gentiles until Acts 10:28-34. I stress the necessity of reading all of Dr. Tisby's books concerning the tragedy and blight of racism. Share them with friends and neighbors. Research Hayes and Mary Turner, 1918 Georgia. Pray that God reopens the eyes of those professing Christians who thrive on hate!
Thanks for your tireless efforts to be "an explainer". I wish that they were not so necessary...
I've been slow to recognize the whitelashes. Raised in white Christian nationalism (wCN), I think of "some "white-dominance-heart-reveal" that spills out like some ash before the volcano erupts for the white-take-over--witnessed today with the corrupt U.S. regime in 2025. For me, I now recognize the spewing of some ashes, which followed the election of Pres Obama, though some folks expected a white-lash revolution right then. During the 2020 social justice-blip, following the murder of George Floyd, I personally learned from "devout Christian" family & friends that they were upset with my social justice actions & they only supported "color-blindness" since slavery in the U.S. was abolished so long ago. Within 5 years, their very sentiments have overtaken the U.S. with the corrupt regime's white-centering & Trump-worshipping. I think the white-centering/white-dominance goes deep & wide & is more baked into generations of hearts & churches than I first saw after Pres. Obama's election.
The Christian Scriptures tel the story how Saul went from murdering people to becoming preacher-Paul & writing several of the Pauline letters. So despite the depth & breadth of racism & the root of greed, I pray my heart keeps changing & growing. I pray similarly for friends, family, generations & our leaders too. Picture ______ (fill in the blank) becoming Saul-Paul!
Thanks for posting this excellent article on Footnotes! I struggled to find the original to share with friends.
For decades, my mornings have begun with unbelievably strong coffee, worship music and reading my Bible and usually last for 60-90 minutes before making breakfast. Over the years, I've become quite humbled during those times by what I've read and heard. This morning your Footnotes post )in the Preamble) and Heather Richardson's Letters from an American seem to have come together in perfect unity. Her letter focused on Dr. King and the events of during the spring and summer events of the civil rights unrest the began in the 60's and continue into now. The basis of DEI at its core is not just something that comes from the mind of men. It is the aroma, if you will, of God. Diverse in the teaching of of three in one, the Trinity. Simply put, some of us understand that and others are threatened by it. In other words, "..the world will hate you." I appreciate you, Jemar.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/maddowfanpage/permalink/10162076854712707/?