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May 1, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: “Let’s take a moment right now to kill that cow. DEI is dead,” said Martin D. Brown, who was appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) in November. “We’re not going to bring that cow up anymore. It’s dead.”
These are the words spoken at VMI on April 21 by the governor appointed diversity officer of the state, as quoted in the Washington Post article on April 27. So, if Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is dead at this institution and across the state, then one would assume Homogeneity, Inequity, and Exclusion is the desired norm.
This has been the normative since the white male landowners enslaved African and Native peoples four centuries ago. Declaring DEI is dead is a regressive not a progressive movement. It takes us back to the days of Jim Crow and rampant White Supremacy oppression.
This is a stance that upholds the belief that white people are better equipped, more capable, and more intelligent than our neighbors of differing ethnic origins. In other words, this is the core of White Christian Nationalist ideology. And, yes, people of different races and ethnic origins can embrace this ideology as Mr. Brown appears to have done.
It is a very sad day when all of us are not given equal respect, equal voice, or equal power in our collective spaces, institutions, businesses, educational venues, communities and governmental offices. I mourn for our regressive leaders, whether they be elected, appointed, or hired. Maintaining power seems to be the end game here. Keeping those who embrace equity, diversity and inclusion in a disempowered place maintains the status quo of oppression of those who are deemed of lesser worth. This is contrary to what my Christian faith teaches. All are created in the image of God. Love your neighbor as yourself. Do unto others as you would do unto yourself. These tenants of faith call for inclusion, respect for diversity of voices and beliefs, and equal standing in the community.
REV. SUSAN WORRELL Fairfield
