While I have lived my entire adult life as a 'liberal'...left-of-center Democrat, I humbly admit that when I first heard the term "white privilege", I resisted the notion. By most accounts, I grew up poor. Neither of my parents came from 'money', and both worked long, hard hours to maintain a family income just above the poverty line. I, myself, began working at the age of 12 as a paperboy. Two years later, I was washing dishes at the local 'greasy spoon' cafe. Then, a couple of years before graduating high school--a grocery store box boy. My financial, and career success as an early adult didn't fare much better. I remember a time when my car broke down, and I just needed $100 to get it fixed. At the time, I was a working as a "maintenance" man (I cleaned the pool, and mowed the grass) at a motel. Lamenting my situation with a friend from my church, he suggested I talk to a fellow member who was a loan officer at a bank. I didn't have much hope--given my background, but...what did I have to lose. So, I went to the bank and sat down with "Jim", and 30-minutes later, I signed a promissory note, and Jim handed me a cashier's check for a hundred dollars.
Now...jump ahead forty years.
I'm having a conversation with two of my children--both in their 20's at the time. While I consider myself rather liberal, and generally support the "Black Lives Matter" movement, I shared my reluctance to accept that I was a product of, or experienced "white privilege." My children simply asked if I could think of a time or event in my life where IF I had been Black--I would have been treated differently, or 'less-than.' For the purposes of this post...I refer you back to my story above. Thanks to my kids...I now get it. That $100 literally saved me. I didn't necessarily get the loan because I was White. However...I know for a fact that a young Black man with the same credentials as mine would've had no hope of getting that loan.
This is it, exactly. White privilege doesn’t equal an easy life, it just means whatever barriers we face, they won’t be racially generated. I went through a similar journey too! Amazing too that you listened to your kids and learned from them.
Thank you. You are too kind. The realization that age is not a pre-requisite to "wisdom" allows us the humility to learn from anyone we encounter. (And...I can't take credit for this idea--that would go to a dear, wise friend of mine).
Recognizing privilege takes so much humility and effort. It's something I continually have to question myself on all the time. I applaud you for being able to do so!
It's good to see that people are starting to realize that white privilege does not mean that a person grew up privileged. You can be poor and experience white privilege. The privilege is simply based on the skin color and the experience that goes with it.
Thank you, Dr. Tisby, for providing this historical context around DEI initiatives and the current backlash, in a history of many similar backlashes.
What strikes me most is how the anti-DEI argument reveals its own self-contained racist assumptions. If someone believes that increasing diversity inherently means lowering qualifications, aren't they fundamentally arguing that qualified candidates only exist within their own demographic group? I don’t think there is a better example of the very racism they claim to oppose.
I appreciate you cutting through the smokescreens to identify what this debate is really about: power and fear.
BTW, for those who crave more humiliating thoughts on the state of our government, I wanted to mention that I also wrote a similar piece a few weeks ago, but focusing less on the historical patterns of backlash against civil rights progress, and more on the sheer hypocrisy of attacking DEI while demonstrating zero commitment to “merit” in Trump's own hiring practices.
The irony is so obvious that it's stupid - a Defense Secretary with no relevant qualifications, with a history of credible allegations of abuse and alcoholism, being appointed through "a feral intimidation campaign” against Joni Ernst until she caved, who needed a tie-breaking vote to get confirmed, gets on a podium to claim that DEI initiatives lower standards. It's purely projection: accusing others of what you're doing yourself.
I totally agree. I think the Economist ran an article on their word of the year: kakistocracy, which means "rule by the worst" (pertaining to the current administration). Folks like Hegseth got their job for towing the line, not for actually being qualified.
Thanks Jonathon, I wasn't familiar with this phrase and I learned something new. Although, I'll admit I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a khaki-tocracy. I was expecting to learn about something like the Brooks Brothers riot of the 2000 election. :-/
This is an excellent article that clearly articulates the background on how we are where we are today with DEI under attack. It’s frustrating to go backwards in the progress that it felt like we had made. Racism is so deeply rooted in our origin that I finally realized (from my place of white girl privilege) that this important work is never “done”. We must continue the work every day in all parts of life.
"We want the most competent people. We don't care what race they are," yet they continue to bring people on board with zero relevant experience or credentials.
What a thorough and clear explanation of DEI and what's behind the anti-DEI rhetoric. Thank you Dr. Tisby. I loved this quote, “Diversity is where everyone is invited to the party. Equity means that everyone gets to contribute to the playlist. Inclusion means that everyone has the opportunity to dance.”
I'm from a small rural town (4,000 pop.) and my husband works for a manufacturing company here and I asked him about the company he works for and if they have DEI practices there and he said they do. Then he sent me a video from the President that gets sent out monthly where he talked about it and said they were getting questions. The president responded, "The answer is simple. Our commitment remains unchanged. We have always prioritized hiring and promoting the best candidate even while expanding our outreach to communities that historically have had less representation. Listening to a wide variety of voices and making sure everyone feels like they belong has been a part of our culture long before DEI became a political talking point. Expect little change." I will say it was nice to hear this.
Your example makes me wonder if some people just need to hear that not all companies are great at DEI. There are good examples, your husband's company from that example sounds like they are one. There are also some DEI rollouts that are not great. Admitting that isn't admitting anything about DEI itself its the implementation. Unfortunately because this involves people there will always be examples where the follow through of DEI is not what we would hope. Part of this is probably also the resistance to sharing power. I don't have any major ideas of how to make that better!
Totally agree. Humans are very, very imperfect at implementing efforts to be more inclusive and equitable. Some right-wing complaints are very fair regarding these programs! But we are in such a divisive culture that people have a hard time coming together on the fixes, and instead just argue the morality of their own position. It's exhausting.
I agree with this - most people who I know in person who are vehemently "anti-DEI" are not actually against DEI, when we have a discussion about it, but they have personal experience with DEI programs that were either antithetical to true DEI principles or so poorly implemented that the results were disastrous to their organizations. I think this can be helped in two primary ways: 1) having concrete examples of achievements of specific DEI initiatives or results of DEI programs that truly follow the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and 2) being not just willing, but proactively able, to admit or call out programs that are not functioning effectively or are contrary to the true principles of diversity, equity, or inclusion.
The firing of General CQ Brown made me so heartbroken. I simply can't understand how Trump supporters do not see the utter hypocrisy in appointing someone less qualified, in firing the Black man to appoint the white man. It's pure racism at work.
Your piece really resonated, especially your point that the DEI debate is more about power than policy. History shows that progress is always met with resistance, and fear is often at the core of that pushback. Fear of change, fear of losing status, fear of the unknown—it drives so much of the opposition. I think one of the biggest challenges in moving DEI forward is addressing that fear head-on. When people feel like something is being "taken" from them, they resist—even if the reality is that inclusion makes workplaces and communities stronger for everyone. The more we can frame DEI as an opportunity rather than a threat, the harder it becomes for bad-faith arguments to take hold. Really appreciate your insights and the way you break these dynamics down Sharon!
Totally agree, and it’s also true that white women have benefited most from DEI. This is according to DOL stats, not my personal opinion. Dr. Tisby was sharing from his area of expertise, but if people are interested, we can explore how women have benefited from DEI in another article?
Yes please Sharon! I think there are lots of people who would be more open to understanding the benefits of this work if they understood how it has benefited them in the category they fall under whether it’s women, disabled folks, vets, etc.
Thank you for your expert analysis, Dr. Tisby. I am concerned that, until we can each look at ourselves and our own lives with humility and honesty, we can’t understand how difficult the path to progress is for so many people. I am a child of privilege. My parents didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but they were both college educated, and my dad had a Master’s degree. They knew how to present career options and help me navigate college applications. They had connections that helped me along the way. And I am white, so I did not have to prove myself. No one looked at me with fear or suspicion. I earned 4 degrees with ease, because I did not have to overcome the hurdles others faced. The complete rebuke of DEI is not only woefully ignorant, but it is placing us all in grave danger, as expertise is being replaced with ineptitude. Thank you for being a voice of wisdom and insanity during an insane time.
Thank you for this article. I so wish I could get my parents to read it. They are in the group that claims “they don’t see color”. They can’t see that to claim color blindness is to white wash the people in order to ignore the challenges certain groups of people have faced in our country. It’s beyond their capabilities to place fear aside and consider an alternate truth.
Great article but you’re missing the part where the president said the plane crash was DEI and then stated a whole list of disabilities. Since that speech my daughter who is deaf and has epilepsy has faced a bunch of setbacks.
Fantastic article!! The other thing I see at play is the fact that those in power use Anti-DEI rhetoric to “explain” why people are suffering or why harm has occurred as a distraction. Their policies are creating the harm and suffering. But they don’t want people to look at that, so they give them the anti DEI boogeyman - “you can’t get ahead because of DEI.” It is the tale as old as time in this country, sadly. When will we learn, America?
While I have lived my entire adult life as a 'liberal'...left-of-center Democrat, I humbly admit that when I first heard the term "white privilege", I resisted the notion. By most accounts, I grew up poor. Neither of my parents came from 'money', and both worked long, hard hours to maintain a family income just above the poverty line. I, myself, began working at the age of 12 as a paperboy. Two years later, I was washing dishes at the local 'greasy spoon' cafe. Then, a couple of years before graduating high school--a grocery store box boy. My financial, and career success as an early adult didn't fare much better. I remember a time when my car broke down, and I just needed $100 to get it fixed. At the time, I was a working as a "maintenance" man (I cleaned the pool, and mowed the grass) at a motel. Lamenting my situation with a friend from my church, he suggested I talk to a fellow member who was a loan officer at a bank. I didn't have much hope--given my background, but...what did I have to lose. So, I went to the bank and sat down with "Jim", and 30-minutes later, I signed a promissory note, and Jim handed me a cashier's check for a hundred dollars.
Now...jump ahead forty years.
I'm having a conversation with two of my children--both in their 20's at the time. While I consider myself rather liberal, and generally support the "Black Lives Matter" movement, I shared my reluctance to accept that I was a product of, or experienced "white privilege." My children simply asked if I could think of a time or event in my life where IF I had been Black--I would have been treated differently, or 'less-than.' For the purposes of this post...I refer you back to my story above. Thanks to my kids...I now get it. That $100 literally saved me. I didn't necessarily get the loan because I was White. However...I know for a fact that a young Black man with the same credentials as mine would've had no hope of getting that loan.
This is it, exactly. White privilege doesn’t equal an easy life, it just means whatever barriers we face, they won’t be racially generated. I went through a similar journey too! Amazing too that you listened to your kids and learned from them.
Thank you. You are too kind. The realization that age is not a pre-requisite to "wisdom" allows us the humility to learn from anyone we encounter. (And...I can't take credit for this idea--that would go to a dear, wise friend of mine).
Recognizing privilege takes so much humility and effort. It's something I continually have to question myself on all the time. I applaud you for being able to do so!
So much humility, yes!! It's easy to deny privilege. Only the brave can face themselves honestly.
Thanks for sharing that important story.
Nowadays I don't think you could replace a button inside a car for only $100!
It's good to see that people are starting to realize that white privilege does not mean that a person grew up privileged. You can be poor and experience white privilege. The privilege is simply based on the skin color and the experience that goes with it.
Thank you for sharing this story. It perfectly articulates the essence of white privileged. Your children sound wonderful.
Thank you, Dr. Tisby, for providing this historical context around DEI initiatives and the current backlash, in a history of many similar backlashes.
What strikes me most is how the anti-DEI argument reveals its own self-contained racist assumptions. If someone believes that increasing diversity inherently means lowering qualifications, aren't they fundamentally arguing that qualified candidates only exist within their own demographic group? I don’t think there is a better example of the very racism they claim to oppose.
I appreciate you cutting through the smokescreens to identify what this debate is really about: power and fear.
BTW, for those who crave more humiliating thoughts on the state of our government, I wanted to mention that I also wrote a similar piece a few weeks ago, but focusing less on the historical patterns of backlash against civil rights progress, and more on the sheer hypocrisy of attacking DEI while demonstrating zero commitment to “merit” in Trump's own hiring practices.
The irony is so obvious that it's stupid - a Defense Secretary with no relevant qualifications, with a history of credible allegations of abuse and alcoholism, being appointed through "a feral intimidation campaign” against Joni Ernst until she caved, who needed a tie-breaking vote to get confirmed, gets on a podium to claim that DEI initiatives lower standards. It's purely projection: accusing others of what you're doing yourself.
https://open.substack.com/pub/timmytangents/p/merit
The utter hypocrisy of this administration of putting in entirely unqualified people while touting merit makes me SO ragey. It's infuriating.
If they didn't have so much power, I'd feel embarrassed for them. Like... we can all see your self-hatred on display and it's really awkward. 😬
I totally agree. I think the Economist ran an article on their word of the year: kakistocracy, which means "rule by the worst" (pertaining to the current administration). Folks like Hegseth got their job for towing the line, not for actually being qualified.
Thanks Jonathon, I wasn't familiar with this phrase and I learned something new. Although, I'll admit I was a little disappointed that it wasn't a khaki-tocracy. I was expecting to learn about something like the Brooks Brothers riot of the 2000 election. :-/
Haha! Khaki-tocracy seems appropriate. Very bro-y.
Haha probably it’s a relation to another word for feces—kaka or caca…rule by the sh*tty…
Preach, Timothy!!
This is an excellent article that clearly articulates the background on how we are where we are today with DEI under attack. It’s frustrating to go backwards in the progress that it felt like we had made. Racism is so deeply rooted in our origin that I finally realized (from my place of white girl privilege) that this important work is never “done”. We must continue the work every day in all parts of life.
"We want the most competent people. We don't care what race they are," yet they continue to bring people on board with zero relevant experience or credentials.
Translation "we want loyalists who won't interfere with our mission of steamrolling democracy"
What a thorough and clear explanation of DEI and what's behind the anti-DEI rhetoric. Thank you Dr. Tisby. I loved this quote, “Diversity is where everyone is invited to the party. Equity means that everyone gets to contribute to the playlist. Inclusion means that everyone has the opportunity to dance.”
I'm from a small rural town (4,000 pop.) and my husband works for a manufacturing company here and I asked him about the company he works for and if they have DEI practices there and he said they do. Then he sent me a video from the President that gets sent out monthly where he talked about it and said they were getting questions. The president responded, "The answer is simple. Our commitment remains unchanged. We have always prioritized hiring and promoting the best candidate even while expanding our outreach to communities that historically have had less representation. Listening to a wide variety of voices and making sure everyone feels like they belong has been a part of our culture long before DEI became a political talking point. Expect little change." I will say it was nice to hear this.
Your example makes me wonder if some people just need to hear that not all companies are great at DEI. There are good examples, your husband's company from that example sounds like they are one. There are also some DEI rollouts that are not great. Admitting that isn't admitting anything about DEI itself its the implementation. Unfortunately because this involves people there will always be examples where the follow through of DEI is not what we would hope. Part of this is probably also the resistance to sharing power. I don't have any major ideas of how to make that better!
Totally agree. Humans are very, very imperfect at implementing efforts to be more inclusive and equitable. Some right-wing complaints are very fair regarding these programs! But we are in such a divisive culture that people have a hard time coming together on the fixes, and instead just argue the morality of their own position. It's exhausting.
I agree with this - most people who I know in person who are vehemently "anti-DEI" are not actually against DEI, when we have a discussion about it, but they have personal experience with DEI programs that were either antithetical to true DEI principles or so poorly implemented that the results were disastrous to their organizations. I think this can be helped in two primary ways: 1) having concrete examples of achievements of specific DEI initiatives or results of DEI programs that truly follow the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and 2) being not just willing, but proactively able, to admit or call out programs that are not functioning effectively or are contrary to the true principles of diversity, equity, or inclusion.
I wish I could buy something from your husband’s company just to show my support!
This is the best article I've read on DEI. Thank you Dr. Tisby for such an informative piece. This is a MUST READ for every single person.
The firing of General CQ Brown made me so heartbroken. I simply can't understand how Trump supporters do not see the utter hypocrisy in appointing someone less qualified, in firing the Black man to appoint the white man. It's pure racism at work.
Your piece really resonated, especially your point that the DEI debate is more about power than policy. History shows that progress is always met with resistance, and fear is often at the core of that pushback. Fear of change, fear of losing status, fear of the unknown—it drives so much of the opposition. I think one of the biggest challenges in moving DEI forward is addressing that fear head-on. When people feel like something is being "taken" from them, they resist—even if the reality is that inclusion makes workplaces and communities stronger for everyone. The more we can frame DEI as an opportunity rather than a threat, the harder it becomes for bad-faith arguments to take hold. Really appreciate your insights and the way you break these dynamics down Sharon!
Good article, but it needs to include women. In this country we are definitely a minority and it’s even worse for women of color.
Totally agree, and it’s also true that white women have benefited most from DEI. This is according to DOL stats, not my personal opinion. Dr. Tisby was sharing from his area of expertise, but if people are interested, we can explore how women have benefited from DEI in another article?
Yes please Sharon! I think there are lots of people who would be more open to understanding the benefits of this work if they understood how it has benefited them in the category they fall under whether it’s women, disabled folks, vets, etc.
I would love that. Thank you!
That and white women benefitted greatly from pro-DEI practices. We must recognize that.
The Governerd community loves you, Dr. Tisby! Thank you for sharing your wisdom with us again. You're a gem of a human.
Thank you for your expert analysis, Dr. Tisby. I am concerned that, until we can each look at ourselves and our own lives with humility and honesty, we can’t understand how difficult the path to progress is for so many people. I am a child of privilege. My parents didn’t have two nickels to rub together, but they were both college educated, and my dad had a Master’s degree. They knew how to present career options and help me navigate college applications. They had connections that helped me along the way. And I am white, so I did not have to prove myself. No one looked at me with fear or suspicion. I earned 4 degrees with ease, because I did not have to overcome the hurdles others faced. The complete rebuke of DEI is not only woefully ignorant, but it is placing us all in grave danger, as expertise is being replaced with ineptitude. Thank you for being a voice of wisdom and insanity during an insane time.
Thank you for this article. I so wish I could get my parents to read it. They are in the group that claims “they don’t see color”. They can’t see that to claim color blindness is to white wash the people in order to ignore the challenges certain groups of people have faced in our country. It’s beyond their capabilities to place fear aside and consider an alternate truth.
I want to send this to everyone I know
Absolutely amazing article! The last sentence, especially! So refreshing to hear the truth 🙏
Great article but you’re missing the part where the president said the plane crash was DEI and then stated a whole list of disabilities. Since that speech my daughter who is deaf and has epilepsy has faced a bunch of setbacks.
I'm so sorry to hear that.
Fantastic article!! The other thing I see at play is the fact that those in power use Anti-DEI rhetoric to “explain” why people are suffering or why harm has occurred as a distraction. Their policies are creating the harm and suffering. But they don’t want people to look at that, so they give them the anti DEI boogeyman - “you can’t get ahead because of DEI.” It is the tale as old as time in this country, sadly. When will we learn, America?