Erasing Diversity: How the DEI Rollback Threatens Black America
- ONETEN MAGAZINE
- May 5
- 4 min read
For decades, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have played a critical role in addressing systemic inequalities, opening doors for marginalized communities, and fostering opportunities for Black Americans in education, employment, and corporate leadership. Yet, in recent years, these efforts have come under relentless attack, with politicians and corporations dismantling DEI programs under the guise of “fairness” and “meritocracy.”
But let’s call it what it is—Racism 101. A coordinated effort to erase Black history, limit Black progress, and suppress any movement toward racial justice.
The Backlash Against DEI: What’s Really Happening?
Conservative lawmakers and interest groups have made DEI their latest battleground, weaponizing phrases like “reverse discrimination” and “woke indoctrination” to justify dismantling policies meant to level the playing field.
Public universities in Texas, Florida, and other states are being forced to defund DEI offices.
Corporate America is quietly slashing DEI roles, breaking their post-2020 promises.
Scholarships and hiring programs designed to uplift marginalized communities are being challenged in court.
The argument? That DEI gives an unfair advantage to minorities and disregards “qualified” candidates.
The reality? DEI doesn’t hand out opportunities—it ensures that Black professionals, students, and entrepreneurs aren’t locked out of them. This rollback signals a return to the status quo, where systemic barriers go unchallenged, and inequality thrives unchecked.
Trump’s Executive Orders: The Final Nail in the DEI Coffin?
The attack on DEI isn’t just happening at the state and corporate level—it’s now being enforced at the highest levels of government.
On January 20, 2025, newly elected President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14151, “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing.” This order eliminates all DEI-related programs within federal agencies and federal contracting, requiring a complete purge of diversity-focused initiatives.
A day later, on January 21, 2025, he signed Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.” This order prohibits private organizations from implementing DEI employment programs for federally funded positions, effectively overturning affirmative action measures established in 1965.
Together, these executive orders eradicate any government-supported DEI efforts, strip away protections for Black and marginalized communities, and send a clear message: diversity is no longer a priority.
These actions aren’t about “ending radical programs” or “restoring merit.” They’re about preserving white supremacy in hiring, education, and economic opportunities. This is a deliberate attempt to erase decades of progress in racial equality, much like efforts to distort history and silence Black voices.
Weaponizing ‘Woke’: A New Dog Whistle for the Oldest Racism
At the same time DEI is under attack, another word has been twisted beyond recognition: woke.
Once a term rooted in Black activism—meaning awareness of racial and social injustices—it has been hijacked by conservatives and turned into a slur. Instead of meaning “socially conscious,” it’s now being used as a blanket term to dismiss anything that promotes racial equity, LGBTQ+ rights, or historical truth.
The war on DEI and the demonization of “wokeness” go hand in hand. Both are about suppressing conversations on race, dismantling systems of progress, and silencing those who refuse to accept whitewashed versions of history.
Banning Black Books: The Erasure of History in Real Time
And if you need further proof of this systemic erasure, look no further than the banning of Black books. Across the country, books by Black authors, civil rights leaders, and historians are disappearing from school shelves under the false pretense of “protecting children.”
Books about Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks? Banned. Works by Toni Morrison, James Baldwin, and Maya Angelou? Pulled from classrooms. Textbooks that accurately depict slavery and systemic racism? Censored or rewritten.
This isn’t about keeping children safe. It’s about keeping America’s ugly truths hidden. If they can control what is taught, they can control how history is remembered. And if they erase the past, they can manipulate the future.
Why This Matters for Black America
The dismantling of DEI, the attack on “wokeness,” and the banning of Black books aren’t separate issues—they’re all part of a larger agenda to push Black America backward.
Without DEI, Black professionals, students, and business owners lose access to opportunities they’ve fought generations for.
By distorting the meaning of “woke,” those in power silence conversations about racial injustice.
Through banning Black books, they are erasing history and controlling the next generation’s understanding of race in America.
It’s no coincidence that these attacks are happening now—at a time when Black buying power is at an all-time high, Black entrepreneurs are breaking barriers, and corporate America is being forced to reckon with racial inequities. The rollback is not about fairness—it’s about control.
What’s Next?
This is a critical moment. If DEI falls, Black America stands to lose decades of progress in workforce representation, corporate leadership, and economic advancement. But that doesn’t mean the fight is over.
✅ Hold institutions accountable. Support Black-owned businesses and demand action from corporations that abandon diversity initiatives.
✅ Invest in Black talent. If they won’t create spaces for us, we’ll build our own.
✅ Challenge book bans. Advocate for keeping Black literature and history in classrooms.
✅ Reclaim ‘woke.’ It was never an insult. It was a call to be aware—and now more than ever, we need to stay aware.
DEI was never about favoritism—it was about fairness. And fairness is worth fighting for.
Final Thought
The attacks on DEI, “wokeness,” and Black books are not just political moves—they are direct threats to Black progress. They want to rewrite history, erase our stories, and make sure future generations never learn the truth.
We won’t let them.
Stay informed. Stay loud. Stay woke.
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