Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Controversy

What put the brakes on DEI?

DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) efforts have become a cultural and political lightning rod in recent election cycles, yet many people struggle to agree on what DEI is actually trying to accomplish. It means different things to different audiences—from HR departments to college campuses to the federal government. This program asks whether recent DEI policies in corporate and academic spaces have yielded real progress or gone too far. Was the backlash against DEI overdue, or did it set equity efforts back decades? Our panelists will explore how to empower diverse perspectives in workplaces and on campuses without virtue signaling, and how legacies of racism continue to shape and polarize conversations around DEI.

Host or Publisher American Public Square