By Cindi Branham
The original title of this column was to be “Are We Witnessing the Death of DEI?”
That was before the federal administration did what they did on January 21, 2025, one day after the inauguration of Donald Trump and JD Vance.
Before then, I had many reasons to believe that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) was something that enough individuals, corporations and organizations wanted that we would somehow weather all that an administration could throw at us in a polite society. But this administration isn’t polite, and we’d be unwise to continue to think they could be, especially after this week.
On Tuesday, two documents – originally sent to government agencies – were floated to the public. They showed that a witch-hunt (yes, I’m borrowing) was being launched to stamp out DEI at the federal level. How long until the red states and many cities follow suit? How long before they are forced under threat to follow suit?
At the local level, in Huntsville at least, we have a progressive government that is mindful of the facts that diversity is responsible for our success as a region (seriously, look around at the rest of the state), and that the people we are bringing here are diverse, and expect equity and inclusion.
Our City uses DEI for positive growth and quality of life
To further our successes, as the director of the City’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (ODEI) announced his retirement, the City set out on a national search for a new director and found him right here at home. That happens when DEI takes hold of a community.
Dr. Randy Barbour, Jr., who previously served as assistant professor of psychology at Alabama A&M University and brings extensive experience from positions held at the Harris Home for Children, North Alabama Center for Educational Excellence and The University of Alabama in Huntsville. He’s ready to hit the ground running.
I haven’t met Barbour, but he’s a lifelong resident, and has served in some of our flagship organizations in the area long enough to know the community, and likely also knows that he’s following in big footsteps (Brenda Martin & Kenny Anderson). I know he’ll get help from them ss well as he begins this journey
On the other hand, Alabama has a very undesirable reputation nationally as a racist, bigoted state. The State uses DEI – very successfully – as red meat for their base. It works for them. We have every reason to believe, based on experience, that our governor and legislature will put anything in place that Trump asks them to, bedamned if it’s the Christian, empathetic or kind thing to do. Even if it’s not the smartest thing to do, they’ll ask how high because Trump told them to, and casting aside all else, they want to remain in power. They know what that takes.
Regardless of what they must do or how they present their true character and values to the public, they will conform and make life harder for those of their residents for whom life is already hard, and for whom little hope is given.
Now we come to the Federal government. Their actions this week are frightening even if you only know a little about Nazi Germany, 1933 to 1938. Admittedly, a lot happened after 1938 – like World War II – but leading up to the war, events in America are mirroring those earlier events. Things are leading up to something here, as well.
On Tuesday, January 21, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) sent a memorandum to heads and acting heads of all federal departments and agencies. It communicated and gave guidance concerning the president’s executive order demanding the end of DEIA, which includes Accessibility. You know, the handicapped; ADA; Americans with Disabilities Act, which made it possible for millions to enrich the rest of us, as we enriched their lives.
The memo was titled “Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing and Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions.”
That should be alarming enough, but the memo goes on to instruct the agencies and departments to send a notice to employees that all departments must, by 5:00 pm the next day (January 22): 1) Send and agency-wide notice of the closure and ask employees if they know of any efforts to disguise these programs (a template was provided; reference the graphic in this column; 2) Notify all DEIA employees that they are placed on paid administrative leave effective immediately as these closures take place; Take down all outward-facing media, to include web sites, social media sites, etc.
Confirmation that all this had been completed was due by close of business January 24.
Ask other employees to turn in any subversive DEIA activities and personnel. If you don’t know what Germany’s Kristallnacht was, please look it up, but in a nutshell, the German government spent time gathering information on Jews and subversives and spent that night breaking into their homes and removing them to concentration camps. (Kristallnacht translates to Night of Broken Glass.)
The email that was received by government employees is in this article as a graphic. It makes departments that tried to “hide” their DEI activities by changing names “illegal,” retroactive to November 5, 2024. It encourages individuals who know of employees performing DEIA activities turn them in, warning of “adverse consequences” if they don’t and protection if they do.
Now do you see why I brought Kristallnacht into this equation?
I don’t know how to end this column because we haven’t really come to an end. But I will end it with the words of US Representative and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries:
“Diversity, equity and inclusion are American values. Perhaps I can explain. The motto of the United States of America is e pluribus unum. Out of many, one. That’s diversity. The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution—one of the most influential important amendments in our country—provides equal protection under the law. That’s equity. In this country, we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. A flag that we just presented to the new President and Vice President. And in that pledge, we promise, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. A-L-L. That’s inclusion. Not complicated. Diversity, equity and inclusion are American values. It’s about economic opportunity. It’s about merit for everyone, based on what you know, not who you know.”
And there you have it: it’s not based on your sexual preferences, the color of your skin, or your parent’s country of origin. And it’s not based on the line of work you chose to go into.