Is DEI a Racial Slur? Rise in Term Outrages Black Americans

Black Americans say "DEI" has been co-opted as a racial slur after conservatives sought to blame diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives for the deadly Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore.

Authorities say a cargo ship lost control and struck one of the bridge's supports, causing it to collapse. Two of the construction workers who were on the bridge were rescued. The bodies of two missing construction workers were recovered on Wednesday, while four others are still missing and presumed dead.

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.

Some sought to cast Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, who is Black, as a diversity hire, despite him being elected to office with more than 70 percent of the vote in a city with a predominantly Black population.

He was dubbed Baltimore's "DEI mayor" in one post on X, formerly Twitter, by a verified account with almost 300,000 followers. It has amassed more than 25 million views.

Scott has responded to the attacks, saying on MSBNC's The ReidOut on Wednesday that he knows what those critics actually "want to say."

"I know, and we know, and you know very well, that Black men, and young Black men in particular, have been the bogeyman for those who are racist and think that only straight, wealthy white men should have a say in anything," he said.

"We've been the bogeyman for them since the first day they brought us to this country, and what they mean by 'DEI,' in my opinion, is duly elected incumbent.

"We know what they want to say. But they don't have the courage to say the N-word, and the fact that I don't believe in their untruthful and wrong ideology, and I am very proud of my heritage and who I am and where I come from, scares them," Scott said.

"Because me being at my position means that their way of thinking, their way of life of being comfortable while everyone else suffers is going to be at risk, and they should be afraid because that's my purpose in life."

Others who sought to attribute the tragedy to DEI initiatives included Anthony Sabatini, a Florida congressional candidate, and Utah State Representative Phil Lyman.

"DEI did this," Sabatini wrote on X.

"This is what happens when you have Governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens," Lyman, who is running for governor, wrote in response to a post that included a photo of Karenthia Barber, a commissioner for the Port of Baltimore who is a Black woman. In another post, he wrote: "DEI = DIE."

Lyman told The Salt Lake Tribune that the post was "not our best moment" and called it a "knee-jerk reaction to some of the things others were putting out there." He said that his social media team made the comments without his approval. Both posts were still up as of Friday morning.

Both Sabatini and Lyman have been contacted for comment via email.

Marc Morial, the president of the National Urban League, a civil rights organization, said the suggestion "that a diverse workforce is somehow less competent than an all-white workforce is racist on its face and beneath the dignity of any self-respecting American."

In a statement to Newsweek, Morial said: "It comes as no surprise that mindless racial hatred flourishes among the crudest of internet trolls.

"The reflex to lay blame for every disaster at the feet of workers of color or simply to assume their incompetence is the most primitive expression of racial animus. The success of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies in building adept, dynamic, and innovative organizations is well documented – as the politicians who exploit tragedies like the Key Bridge collapse to provoke resentment are well aware."

Several prominent Black Americans also took to social media to respond to the attacks, saying that racists have taken to using "DEI" as a stand-in for the n-word.

"I guess DEI is the new 'N' word," Florida State Senator Shevrin Jones wrote on X.

Representative Maxwell Alejandro Frost, a Democrat from Florida, wrote on X: "DEI hire = disgusting racial slur."

Journalist Jemele Hill responded: "Just call him a n****r. Cause at this point, I'm more offended that you're this much of an imbecile."

Newsweek has contacted Jones, Frost and Hill for further comment via email.