Stacey Abrams says that companies should always use the term “dei” despite the counterou
While the Trump administration is continuing its efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion programs (DEI) in the public and private sector, many large companies react by modifying the language they use. But this backpedaling will not save them from the current anti-end criticism, explains Stacey Abrams, and could have deeper repercussions for their programs.
“They are not crazy about letters, they are crazy about the mission. And unless you change your mission, you will not facilitate the attack,” said the former governor’s post for Georgia in a panel of the Nyu School of Law on July 11. Abrams now directs America Pride Rises, an organization dedicated to the defense and the expansion of the DEI objectives.
A Dei Rollback company started two years ago when the Supreme Court canceled a positive action. Some companies such as Tractor Supply have completely reduced their programs, while others like Harley Davidson and Deere and Co. have changed part of their programs. The counterpoup against Dei has reached new heights when Trump took office earlier this year. In an executive decree, he ended the Dei programs in the federal government. In another, he targeted in the private sector, distinguishing in particular federal entrepreneurs. The leaders of leaders have created a major cold in American companies, while the leaders are trying to stay outside the president’s reticle.
About 78% of C-Suite managers say that they strengthen the programs with a new language, the transition to terms such as “employee engagement”, “culture of the workplace”, “equity” and “belonging”, according to a recent survey of managers with the programs of active inclusion of the workplace of non-profit inclusion and belonging. Another study revealed that the use of terms such as “DEI”, “diversity” and “inclusion” in makeshift deposits 100 sec and profits calls from 2023 to 2024, decreased by 22%. During the same period, more neutral language cases as “merit” and “belonging” increased by 59%.
Abrams maintains that the exchange of certain words for others creates a major distraction and serves as the first step towards the modification of the overall objectives of these programs. “This fractures us, and he creates an internal set of dynamics, a set of internal debates, which allows them to distract from the origin of the real attack,” she said. “When we fight to add letters, or take letters, or reorganize the letters, we do not argue on the mission.”
Despite the wave of Dei rollbacks and the backtracking on the language in particular, Abrams is categorical that these policies are alive, although it has clearly looked at what the defenders are confronted.
“Dei is not dead; it is not even on support for life,” said Abrams. “What is subject to an assiduous and aggressive attack because they think that if they can fracture our attention, they can gain their fight.”
