After dropping out of the re-election bid, President Joe Biden endorsed Kamala Harris for the presidential nomination. However, in less than 24 hours after Harris’ formal launch for the bid, some Republican figures aimed at Harris for her race and being the “DEI candidate”.
Supporters and critics across the nation were quick to respond to the news. Where supporters back home were happy and worried for Harris, critics claimed her to be a “DEI hire” because of her race.
Harris worked as a prosecutor for many years before being elected to the offices of district attorney in San Francisco and later attorney general in California. Before being appointed as vice president in 2020, she went on to win the US Senate election in California in 2016 and became the first black and South Asian senator in the state.
On Sunday and Monday, tens thousands of Black Americans got connected via Zoom calls in support of the campaigns #winwithBlackwomen and #winwithBlackmen. They raised more than $2.8 million collectively for Harris overall.
During an interview with NBC News Now, former Speaker Kevin McCarthy referred to the DEI’s assaults on Harris as “stupid and dumb.” She reacted more strongly, claiming, “I disagree with DEI, but she’s the vice president of the United States,” and “These congressmen that are saying it, they’re wrong in their instincts.”
What is DEI?
Industry experts define DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) as the activities and programs addressing discrimination against formally marginalized groups in government agencies, businesses, and schools.
Argument against DEI
Women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, and other oppressed groups holding positions of authority are increasingly having their qualifications questioned or criticized based on DEI.
Conservative lawmakers across the country have targeted these projects, arguing that they encourage racial conflicts and unjust advantages for vulnerable groups. Proponents of DEI projects assert that such programs seek to address in systemic forms of inequality, and not limited to salary disparities, workplace inaccessibility, and discriminatory hiring practices.
Republican take on DEI
The Republican Party’s core conviction that racial issues have taken over society is the basis of the DEI rhetoric. The phrase “weaponizing” has gained popularity during the cycle of presidential elections as conservative activists, influencers, and politicians increasingly place the blame for everything from global tech outages to attempted assassinations of former president Donald Trump on attempts to establish a more inclusive and equitable environment.
Democratic Defense
Republicans have come under fire from MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough for labelling Harris, who is the daughter of immigrants from India and Jamaica, as a “DEI candidate.”
“99% of Americans, I’ll tell you, have no idea what those letters even mean. However, they are aware that it’s most likely racist, “Scarborough stated on “Morning Joe” on Tuesday.
Glynda Carr, president of a political group (Higher Heights for America) that promotes involvement of the black women in politics, said, “Republicans may eventually find themselves on the receiving end of sustained attacks on Harris’ gender or color.”
America’s take on DEI
Since a Supreme Court decision last year that eliminated affirmative action in college admissions, DEI programs have faced intense criticism. According to a recent Washington Post-Ipsos survey, almost 60% of Americans thought diversity initiatives were a “good thing.”
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