DEI

The concept of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is dying. Its rise, starting in the civil rights movement of the 1960's, became self destructive as it turned toward exclusion of those who did not agree. It led to things like cancel culture and Covid exposed how it affected schools with things like critical race theory. Now with the Palestinian protest in colleges there are more questions. Big companies first saw this as a way of polishing their image with sayings like doing good while doing well. HR departments jumped on the band wagon and what was a good purpose swung too far and now is subject to back lash. The research that showed that DEI was good for business turned wrong when things went too far. The result is that many companies are reducing their DEI investments. Let by tech companies like Amazon, Twitter, Meta and Microsoft the DEI professionals are being laid off and budgets are cut sometimes as much as 90%. Other companies like Walmart, Netflix and Wells Fargo are facing criticism and backlash from consumers and employees. The pendulum swung too far.