Confederate “Heritage” Month 2024, April 7: A bridge to the “DEI” label

The Republican right’s latest favorite set of initial is DEI, the initial for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

Roy Edroso explained succinctly what the initials mean when rightwingers use them, specifically on the right’s reaction to the recent Baltimore bridge disaster:

And there were the many conservatives like Florida GOP/Claremont creep Anthony Sabatini, who blamed the [bridge] crash on “DEI,” and Utah Republican Phil Lyman, who blamed “diversity.” (And there was the bluecheck douche who called Brandon Scott our “DEI Mayor” for no other reason than, as Robinson said, “’DEI’ has just become another way of saying the ‘n-word.”’) (1)

It's always important to remember that neo-Confederate/Lost Cause dogma about the Civil War and the slave South is highly ideological. It’s not about an honest attempt to understand history. It’s white supremacist propaganda framing, directed in particular against African-Americans. So this manifestation is part of the scene that finds the Lost Cause narrative of American history attractive.

Baltimore’s mayor called it out immediately in this case:

Mayor Brandon Scott has come to expect overt and not-so-overt racism.

The latest example came in the aftermath of Tuesday morning’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. Within hours, Scott said he started to notice social media posts labeling him as a “DEI Mayor.”

Scott immediately bristled at the dog whistle.

“We know what these folks really want to say when they say DEI mayor,” he told The Banner. “Whether it is DEI or clown. They really want to say the N-word. But there is nothing they can do and say to me that is worse than the treatment of my ancestors. I am proud of who I am and where I come from.” (2)

Here's an interview with Mayor Scott (3):

And a relevant comment from Thomas Zimmer (4):

Notes:

(1) Edroso, Roy (2024): A bridge too far. Roy Edroso Breaks It Down 03/28/2024. <https://edroso.substack.com/p/a-bridge-too-far> (Accessed: 2024-29-03).

(2) Williams IV, John-John (2024): Racists called Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott a ‘DEI mayor.’ Here’s how he responded. Baltimore Banner 03/28/2024. (Accessed: 2024-28-03).

(3) They should be afraid': Baltimore leader called 'DEI mayor' stands up to right-wing, racist attacks. MSNBC YouTube channel 05/28/2024. (Accessed: 2024-28-03).

(4) Zimmer, Thomas (2024): Bluesky 03/29/2024. (Accessed: 2024-04-04).