Blaming DEI is a Distraction - Don't Fall for It

The attack on DEI isn’t about merit—it’s about misdirection.

Despite overwhelming evidence that diversity, equity, and inclusion make workplaces stronger, drive innovation, and boost profits, DEI is suddenly being framed as the problem. Why? Because when?people?are busy fighting each other, they’re not questioning who’s actually pulling the strings.

If you think DEI is about taking opportunities away from some to give to others, I urge you to pause and ask:?Who benefits when we see each other as the enemy??The answer might surprise you.

Blaming DEI While Cutting Jobs: A Convenient Distraction

It’s no coincidence that as DEI is being relentlessly attacked, companies are making sweeping job cuts. But are those jobs really being “redistributed,” or are they simply disappearing?

Meta laid off more than 21,000 employees. Boeing cut 17,000 jobs. Tesla slashed thousands more.?And now, the richest man in the world is gutting civil servant jobs—once again using DEI as a scapegoat and calling it “efficiency.” But does anyone really believe these so-called “cost savings” will trickle down to everyday Americans? Not likely—at least, not to the hardworking people just trying to provide for their families.

This isn’t about fairness or meritocracy. It’s about?corporate cost-cutting disguised as a culture war. Instead of admitting they’re making decisions that harm?employees of all backgrounds, companies and political leaders push a false narrative- turning?people?against each other instead of questioning the?leaders actually making those decisions.

The Real Goal: Division, Not Progress

The rapid rollback of DEI efforts, particularly under Trump’s new executive orders, is being framed as a return to “merit-based” systems. But let’s be real:?the argument against DEI isn’t about fairness—it’s about control.

DEI has become a?convenient wedge issue, a tool to divide?employees?rather than address the systemic inequalities that harm everyone. Instead of fixing broken hiring systems, stagnant wages, and unchecked corporate power, anti-DEI rhetoric tells?people?to fight each other, stoking hate and division among people who should be uniting around common interests.

Redirecting Economic Anxiety Toward Identity Politics

Many working- and middle-class Americans face?real, urgent financial struggles—rising costs of housing, healthcare, and education, all while wages stagnate, automation replaces jobs, and corporate consolidation limits opportunity. But instead of addressing these very real issues, DEI is falsely blamed for economic hardship.

Example:?While the public debate fixates on affirmative action in higher education, the?real?crisis for middle- and working-class families is the skyrocketing cost of college.?Over the last two decades, tuition costs have risen far faster than wages, forcing millions of students into massive debt just to afford a degree—while putting higher education increasingly out of reach for low- and middle-income families.?Shouldn’t we be asking why college has become so expensive that most Americans can’t afford it??

Example:?If a white male?professional?struggles to advance in his career, he’s led to believe it’s because of “diversity hires.” But in reality,?many corporate leaders prioritize cost-cutting, automation, and short-term shareholder gains over long-term investment in their employees—harming career growth for everyone.

DEI Isn’t the Problem—Greed Is

The same companies rolling back DEI initiatives are also the ones slashing benefits, outsourcing jobs, and?increasing executive pay while cutting opportunities for everyone else. This isn’t about fairness. It’s about?squeezing employees while consolidating wealth and power at the top.

When companies focus solely on boosting?short-term profits for shareholders?instead of investing in employees and communities, only the wealthiest win—while?employees of all backgrounds lose.

If your job disappeared, ask yourself:?Did it go to a diverse candidate, or was it eliminated entirely?

Final Thought: The Real Power is in Unity

The real fight isn’t between white men and diverse candidates. It’s between those who hoard power and those who believe in?fair workplaces and opportunity for all—an idea that has always been at the heart of the American promise.?A country where hard work, talent, and determination should open doors for everyone, not just a privileged few.

But instead of working toward that vision,?some would rather keep us fighting each other. They push the false idea that DEI is to blame for economic struggles —when in reality, it’s just a distraction from the real forces limiting opportunity for?everyone.

The good news??We don’t have to fall for it.?When we reject these manufactured divisions and focus on the real issues—fair pay, access to good jobs, leadership accountability—we all win. Stronger, more inclusive workplaces don’t just help some; they benefit everyone.

The next time someone tells you DEI is the problem, take a step back and ask:

Who actually benefits from keeping us divided?

Because a future where we stand together—rather than apart—is one where we all thrive.