RIP DEI

DEI Is Dead. Now What?

Happy Sunday Peaceniks. Ready to diversify?

For many years, America has been obsessed with DEI. The issue, for this issue, is that there is no single, true definition of the issue. If I had to guess, I’d say a significant number of people use the phrase “DEI” without knowing that it stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. And, of those who do know the terms “DEI” represents, I’d wager a meaningful share don’t fully understand the difference between the three words.

In large part in reaction to the murder of George Floyd, “DEI” became a staple of executive town halls - badges of honor for companies eager to “prove their progressiveness.” As is often the way for American Capitalism, “DEI” also became a billion dollar industry. But, as The Atlantic’s Conor Friedersdorf lays out, DEI became a victim of its own vagueness. The concept was overused, confused, misused, and abused. Eventually, “DEI” became weaponized — by the left, who used it as a performative purity test; and by the right…