All of Her Things

.my morning thoughts on the eve of black history month.

In 2015, I worked at a member organization that supported leaders in the communications field. I was a Diversity & Inclusion lead and co-created an event to help diverse, young talent network with chief communication officers. Since leaving that organization, the team has continued to engage its members even more in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the communications field. Some may question what the importance of DEI is. DEI initiatives in the workplace help to ensure fair hiring practices and fairness within an organization, an example being pay equity. DEI in the workplace isn’t just about race; it’s about connecting my worldview with yours to understand what people want. It fosters creativity and new ideas. DEI initiatives help build trust within an organization. DEI is a good thing, not only for companies but for society as a whole.

When George Floyd was killed in 2020, massive protests followed, but new initiatives were implemented to enhance DEI practices within the workplace. Now, in 2025, large companies like Target are rolling back their DEI initiatives by discontinuing reports to the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index and ending programs that support Black and minority-owned businesses in placing their products on shelves and improving representation and shopping experiences for their Black customers. I was heartbroken because I loved Target, and now, I feel I may not shop there again. Yes, I also live in Germany now, so I guess that makes it easier for me, but I had expected to make trips to Target to stock up on things I can’t get here. I empathize with those who live in communities where Walmart or Target is their only option; they can’t simply boycott.

This post isn’t actually about the rollback of DEI initiatives, though. It’s about a growing fear I have. It’s the idea that DEI is now perceived as something negative. It’s a new way to say “n*gger” when discussing Black, Brown, and LGBTQ folks. During the 2024 election, Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as a “DEI Hire.” She stated, “I think she’s one of the weakest candidates I’ve ever seen in the history of our country. I mean intellectually, just really kind of the bottom of the barrel. … I think that she was a DEI hire.” A quick search will show that Kamala Harris has an impressive background in political science, economics, and law, having graduated from law school. She served as the District Attorney of San Francisco (2004-2011), Attorney General of California (2011-2017), and California State Senator (2017-2021) before becoming Vice President. Just be honest; people chose not to vote for her and held her to this impossible standard because she was a woman of color, not because she wasn’t qualified for the job.

This week, there was a tragic accident in which a military helicopter collided with a jetliner, resulting in the deaths of all 67 people on board both aircraft. Instead of commemorating those who lost their lives and offering comfort to the American public, the President blamed DEI policies at the Federal Aviation Administration, stating, “We want the most competent people. We don’t care what race they are. If they don’t have a great brain, a great power of the brain, they’re not going to be very good at what they do, and bad things will happen.” He asserted that the FAA changed its policies under Obama and Biden, but they have been the same since 2013. I don’t know who was the cause of this accident, but the president is already laying the groundwork for non-minorities to blame DEI (minorities) for anything that goes wrong.

Does any of this feel like a history lesson? We have the wealthiest person in the world performing (I’m going to state it plainly) Nazi salutes, giant organizations rolling back their DEI practices, and individuals claiming to be censored on their social media channels. Now, the president is using DEI programs as a scapegoat, blaming it for the deadliest US commercial airline crash since 2009.

These reflections occur to me as I live in Germany, and January 27^th marked the commemoration of the 80^th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.  Europeans see what’s happening and wonder why we haven’t learned anything from Germany’s dark past.

I know we are overwhelmed by the news and that everyone needs a break from it at times. However, I hope we don’t ignore the signs or think, “This doesn’t affect me,” because it might soon enough.

You guys, this isn’t normal. As I write this, he’s been in office for 11 days, and I fear what’s to come.