The ongoing weaponization of DEI continues to pose dangers to our ability to learn the history of our nation and the contributions of a wide variety of people who are not white males. This past week, we learned that the Department of Defense employs an algorithm that automatically targets and removes pages on its website that feature stories of people of color, indigenous people, women, and LGBTQ people and marks the stories as “dei” regardless of the content. This resulted in widespread public outcry when stories featuring the Tuskegee Airmen, Navajo Code Talkers, and Jackie Robinson were among those removed and labeled “dei.” Those stories were eventually restored but countless stories of the contributions of other lesser known people have not been restored. The first video posted below provides information and reflection on the danger posed to our history by this practice.
The danger of the DEI purge goes beyond website postings. Recently a story came to light that the US Marine Band was scheduled to play a concert along with a group of talented teenage musicians chosen after auditioning for this special opportunity. However the teenagers are people of color who are part of a non-profit organization called Equity Arc. That was enough for the administration to order the Marines to cancel the concert as part of their DEI purge. It was a huge disappointment for the teenage and Marine musicians. Yet others were determined to not let this injustice pass. A group of retired veterans who served in bands from various branches of the military stepped forward and offered to play in place of the active duty Marine musicians who were forbidden to perform. Money was raised to fly the students to the DC area where they performed with the retired veterans at a prominent area venue. The result was that millions of people became aware of this story of resistance and determination. The second video posted below tells this insipiring story. Please take the time to watch it.
The few examples of the DEI purge cited above illustrate both the danger this poses for our nation and the determination of people who resist this injustice. Like those who went before us throughout our history including the modern Civil Rights Movement, we must call out injustice when we see it and commit to forms of nonviolent resistance that dramatize the injustice with the goal of moving to greater levels of justice for all people. This is a multi-generational calling, and it is our turn to step up to our leg of this sacred journey.