How Trump Officially Ending DEI On Paper Could Be A Blessing In Disguise

Source: Andrew Harnik / Getty

Day one under newly reelected President Donald J. Trump was Project 2025 in full throttle. Can I point something out to my people? He is not waiting to give his base something, so why didn’t… nvm.

Another one of Trump’s polices was brought forth by executive order, essentially methodically ending DEI as we know it. The reactions were widespread displeasure with the decision.

But this got me thinking, why would I want to work somewhere, even the government, if they don’t want me there? It’s almost like when the US ended affirmative action for colleges, and people were upset. I don’t want to go to a white university, even an Ivy League school, that doesn’t want me there or respect my intelligence. And are they really better for us if they don’t want us there? Definitely not a good environment. So wouldn’t the job environment be the same.

Why would I care if I get into Harvard when I can go to Howard? I would rather learn journalism at Clark Atlanta than at any other non-Black institution in the world. I would want to learn in a safe, empowering and fair environment than one that openly professes its disdain for me.

The institution understands me culturally and of course, professionally because they have been living in a phony DEI world for decades.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion was less of an idea or vision and more of a trendy buzz word for reintegration. And all integration broken down in AAVE is “more jobs, less money and no ownership”. It was like they wanted our brilliance and not us. And honestly, I only believe DEI became such a household name because most of the jobs are remote. (Translation: not in the same space so I can pick your brain, mine your ideas and I ain’t gotta be nowhere near you?)

Sounds like a racist so-called liberal’s dream job. Like one of those jobs that made Juneteenth an official paid holiday, meanwhile they got you slaving on MLK Day. I’m pretty sure this was not in Corretta or Martin’s dream for me 60 years later.

This is the side of DEI no one ever wants to talk about out loud.  And by DEI being removed at the swipe of the pen by President Trump this week, it effectively gifts many of us an opportunity to reflect as a people on whether we really want to give “them” ownership over how we feed our families.

Like seriously, do “we” really want the people who vote for political parties that empower or allow racists to harm us daily to be our co-workers, manager, supervisor or even the CEO? Did we not learn anything about the United States of America post George Floyd and Breonna Taylor? These people are paying money to go see people like George Zimmerman and Kyle Rittenhouse brag about unaliving Black people.

Now ask yourself, do you want to be in the building, let alone the same meeting room with someone like that?

And again, I’m not talking about not working, even though a general strike would hit right now. I’m not talking about the people who gotta do what they gotta do to survive and pay bills. I’m talking to my people who are more qualified, skilled and successful than every co-worker, manager, supervisor and even the CFO, CEO and CTO, combined from start-up to corporate America, who have options. And I mean Black options.

Source: MoMo Productions / Getty

Black America needs more Black ownership, which brings more Black employment. It should lead to healthier and more enriched lives if you work somewhere that understands you. And as we see over on the non-melanated side of the employment sector, some of them don’t care if our babies become the next hashtag; they’re still gonna want us at work the same night of the funeral. I have seen it with my own two eyes. (Sidenote: If you are one of those Black people who runs or owns a company but don’t go out to hire yourself in every age, sex, and persuasion, then this message is not for you.)

I’m talking to “our” people, the ones who started that business because of inequity. Then this is our time to flourish.

They are letting go of our best and brightest, so let’s unify through economics. Let’s reward the girl with the tattoos who is the best in sales and salesforce. Go hire that young creative to run your ads and marketing department. You would’ve never learned that they made a commercial for Pepsi and can make a Super Bowl quality ad for your brand too, if you bet on Black like every Fortune 500 company in this nation has since way before the pandemic. How do you think they got so rich?

Oh, and one last message to the Black CEOs and business owners. Pay our people! I mean pay them their worth. Who knows, one of them could make us all rich one day. Not only on paper but in the places that matter more importantly.

Peace,

Tory Russell is a Ferguson Uprising organizer, internationally recognized Black movement leader, speaker and political strategist. He currently serves as the Director of Organizing at the International Black Freedom Alliance. He has previously written and created content for NewsOne, such as iOne Digital’s groundbreaking podcast series, “Witness to History: Ferguson 10. He has previously been seen on and contributed to media outlets like Ebony, Essence, BET, Revolt TV, Black Agenda Report, CNN, MSNBC and many others globally.

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