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In the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election, corporations like Walmart, Lowe’s, John Deere, and others are quietly scaling back or outright eliminating their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. For many of us in the Black community, this is not just a disappointment—it is a slap in the face. It’s the latest reminder that for so many, DEI was never a genuine commitment to change; it was simply a response to a moment of national outrage, a trend they could lean into when public pressure was high, and then quietly step away from when it was no longer convenient. The pendulum swings of corporate America’s "commitment" to justice and equity are not just tiresome; they are harmful. They reveal a deeper, more insidious truth about how this nation engages with the necessary restoration and atonement for Black communities: it doesn’t.
DEI as a Trend, Not a Transformation
For us, DEI is not something we can afford to turn on and off. It is a matter of survival. When the murder of George Floyd ignited global protests, corporations raced to issue solidarity statements and pledged billions toward DEI programs and racial equity initiatives. Yet, as time passed and the political climate shifted, those same companies began quietly retracting those commitments. DEI, it seems, was never a sincere transformation—it was a trend. Something to pacify public outrage, not to uproot systemic inequities.
But for the Black community, DEI is not a trend. It is a critical framework for healing centuries of racial violence, exclusion, and systemic oppression. It is a mechanism to address the trauma that lives in our bodies, our institutions, and our nation’s DNA. When corporations treat DEI as a checkbox or a marketing ploy, they perpetuate a cycle of harm, exacerbating the wounds they claim to address.
The Human Cost vs. The Profit Line
What is the price of abandoning DEI? For corporations, it may appear as though they are merely cutting back on a line item, adjusting their budgets to reflect the changing tides of political and financial pressure. But the true cost—the human cost—is far greater. The trauma that is inflicted on Black employees when their workplace is no longer invested in their inclusion is incalculable. They are told, once again, that their worth is conditional, that their presence, their voice, and their value can be erased with a change in leadership or market conditions.
For Black employees, these initiatives were not just about hiring quotas or training sessions—they were about the hope of a fairer future. They were about the possibility that companies might finally recognize the deep inequities built into their structures and take tangible steps toward correcting them. When DEI is abandoned, it is not just a program that’s being eliminated; it’s the hope of progress being stripped away, piece by piece. It’s an implicit message that Black lives don’t matter enough to make lasting change.
Corporations may see their profit lines as their primary concern, but ignoring the human cost of their decisions comes at a steep price. A society built on inequity cannot prosper for long, and an economy that neglects to heal its deep wounds will never be sustainable. When companies abandon DEI work, they are not just failing to create equitable opportunities—they are reinforcing the systems that harm us all. They are allowing the cycle of racial trauma to continue, unchecked.
The Harm of Abandonment
Scaling back DEI initiatives is not a neutral act. It is an active withdrawal of support for the Black community and other systemically impacted groups. It sends a clear message: "Your humanity is relevant if convenient. Our commitment to equity depends on the political winds." The trauma of this abandonment cannot be overstated.
When we look at the corporations pulling back on their DEI commitments, we see that these companies are only focused on the profit line. They are willing to walk away from racial equity because they don’t see the human cost—it doesn’t appear on their balance sheets. But to those of us who have long suffered the consequences of systemic exclusion, we know that every time DEI is scaled back, the damage is profound, and it ripples across generations.
When DEI is abandoned:
Black employees lose critical pathways for career advancement and safe spaces for their voices to be heard.
Communities of culture feel the sting of betrayal, as promises of progress turn into empty words.
Society as a whole suffers, as the vital work of dismantling systemic inequities is halted, leaving everyone to contend with the consequences of unaddressed injustice.
DEI is not just about Black people—it is about building a society where everyone thrives. When corporations retreat, they not only harm the communities they dehumanize but also weaken the social interconnectedness that binds us all.
For those of us in the Black community, the necessity of this work has never been seasonal. DEI work is a living, breathing journey, and its destination is not fixed. The end goal isn’t a neatly packaged program or a flashy diversity quota—it's a transformed culture, a restructured system, and a society where equity is not optional but foundational. And that transformation does not happen overnight, nor can it be halted because a political figure or financial outlook shifts.
The Fight for Restoration
The scaling back of DEI efforts is not just a corporate issue; it is a societal failure. It reflects a broader unwillingness to confront the truth of America’s racial history and the ongoing impacts of that legacy. True equity and inclusion require more than slogans and token efforts—they demand transformation.
Transformation means:
Acknowledging the harm that has been done and continues to be done.
Committing to accountability that does not waver with political or public pressure.
Embedding equity into the very DNA of institutions, not as a temporary project, but as a permanent practice.
Measure the outcomes by aligning competency to cultural humility and humanity.
A Call to Action
To the CEOs and boards of Walmart, Lowe’s, John Deere, and others: your actions—or inactions—speak volumes. The Black community is watching, and we are tired of empty gestures. If you cannot commit to transformative change, then do not feign interest in our liberation. We do not need performative allies; we need partners in justice.
To the broader community: we must refuse to let equity become a trend. We must hold these corporations accountable, not just with our voices but with our dollars. Boycott companies that abandon their commitments to DEI. Support businesses that uphold equity as a core value. Advocate for legislation that ensures racial equity efforts cannot be discarded at a whim. Put your conscious over you convenience, and galvanize your networks to do the same.
The Power of Transformation
DEI was never meant to be trendy. It is a transformative practice that requires courage, consistency, and a true commitment to justice. For those who see it as disposable, know this: the cost of your cowardice will be paid not just by the Black community, but by all of us.
The time for trends is over. Transformation is the only path forward. Will you stand on the right side of history, or will you retreat into the comfort of complicity? The choice is yours.
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