Black Radio Host Blasts DEI 'Garbage'

Black radio host and comedian Charlamagne Tha God blasted DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs and initiatives as "garbage" on The Daily Show, a political satire television program.

DEI practices in corporate America grew in popularity, with companies promoting the value of creating a welcoming atmosphere where people from diverse backgrounds can excel. Now, however, DEI programs have become a frequent target of right-wing activists in recent years, and Republican lawmakers are backing dozens of bills targeting DEI initiatives at universities and other public institutions.

Progressives tend to back DEI programs as a way to combat institutionalized racism that they say is ever-present in society. Conservatives, on the other hand, have fought against such initiatives as they worry that DEI aims to push a narrative against some classes of people (whether that be based on race, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.) and create an unfair advantage for others.

During an appearance on The Daily Show on Wednesday night, Charlamagne showed a few ads from companies like Microsoft, General Mills and Vaseline promoting their DEI initiatives, and then showed clips of media personalities bashing such programs, saying things like "DEI is just a rebranded version of hating white people."

"These right-wingers are crazy. Right? Jesus," Charlamagne said. "But here's the part where you all stop applauding everything I say. The truth about DEI is that although it's well-intentioned, it's mostly garbage, okay."

Charlamagne then joked: "It's kinda like the black Little Mermaid—Just because racists hate it, doesn't mean it's good. And you know, I'm right, because every one of you has sat through one of those diversity training sessions and thought this is some bulls***.

"And it's not just you. Over 900 studies have shown that DEI programs don't make the workplace better for minorities. In fact, it can actually make things worse because of the backlash effect."

Newsweek could not independently confirm which studies Charlamagne referred to.

However, a paper published by Frank Dobbin and Alexandra Kalev in Anthropology Now, a peer-reviewed journal, in 2018 wrote, "Hundreds of studies dating back to the 1930s suggest that antibias training does not reduce bias, alter behavior or change the workplace."

The radio host pointed out that even with DEI programs, Black people still lack leadership positions in corporate America.

"The biggest failure of DEI is that the number of black people in power at big companies is basically the same as it was five years ago. In fact, maybe the only thing that DEI has accomplished is giving racist white people cover to be openly racist," he said.

Charlamagne said that DEI programs don't work because it's "just corporate PR" for companies who "want to cover their ass."

"We don't need corporate DEI. Yes, we want diversity and equity and inclusion. But we don't want it from Vaseline," the comedian joked.

He continued: "Real DEI is only going to come from black leadership. I don't know how to do it because I'm not a black leader, but I do know how to tell if it's working—Just keep an eye on right-wing media, the more they're freaking out, the more progress we're making."

Newsweek reached out to Charlamagne via online form for comment.