They Championed D.E.I. Now They’re Divided. | NYT Opinion

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In recent years, diversity, equity and inclusion policies have shifted from an internal workplace initiative to a public reckoning. Critics argue that it has strayed from its original purpose, reshaping institutions in ways that are performative at best and discriminatory at worst. President Trump has made dismantling it a central political project, targeting efforts across government, academia and the arts. Even some on the left have begun to question what D.E.I. has become. But the most revealing critique may come from the people who built it. In this episode of “Divided,” we bring together four former D.E.I. leaders to reflect on their accomplishments and failures. Bo Young Lee, a tech executive, and Michael Yassa, a university professor, still see D.E.I. as a worthwhile endeavor and a set of ideals to strive for. Desiree Fixler, a finance executive, and Erec Smith, a professor, once shared that view, but have come to believe D.E.I. is counterproductive. Will these four insiders be able to agree on where D.E.I. went wrong and what should come next? 00:00 Intro 01:13 Is D.E.I. discriminatory? 07:02 I accomplished nothing 07:32 Rigging diversity targets 08:40 Uber’s D.E.I. turnaround 10:01 When D.E.I. is performative 12:24 Agree or Disagree: I value diversity. 14:32 Hypothetical: Who should get hired? 18:54 Common misconceptions 22:01 Equality vs. Equity 26:26 Language policing 30:01 Should companies take sides on global affairs? 33:29 D.E.I. practices that should be eliminated 34:28 I changed my mind