A quintet of University of Massachusetts Amherst researchers claim racism is behind efforts to dismantle DEI — diversity, equity, and Inclusion — programs in education and elsewhere.
Writing in The Conversation and citing sources such as NPR, MSNBC, and Axios, the academics begin by highlighting “right-wing” activists like Chris Rufo who had “helped force” the resignation of former Harvard president Claudine Gay.
Some activists even had dared to assert Gay got her position in the first place due to higher ed’s obsession with DEI. (Curiously, the scholars make no mention of Gay’s actual plagiarism.)
While the researchers concede those who still believe in colorblindness may not necessarily be racist (such as Utah Governor Spencer Cox), they choose to highlight silly DEI conspiracies like the recent destruction of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge and the election of the city’s mayor. (Never mind the mayor’s subsequent ominous comments).