Complicating DEI: Leveraging Political Backlash to Reimagine Racial and Social Justice

A series of movements culminating in George Floyd’s murder led to an uptick in formal DEI commitments across organizations. Since then, conservative backlash against DEI has been fierce and effective as evidence shows a downturn in formal commitments to organizational DEI over the past two years. Yet, the initial promise of DEI - one rooted in the aftermath of the Civil Rights Movement - has all but disappeared as the ideals that the conservative movement has pushed back on in recent years are, ironically, largely in line with an agenda that serves whiteness. As such, how might rightwing backlash to DEI offer an opportunity for scholars and educators to reimagine and promote racial and social justice [within higher education institutions/ organizations more generally]?