Who’s afraid of DEI? And why?

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) initiatives have become institutional mainstays in corporate and academic settings—but they are currently under attack. In this episode of Hotel Bar Sessions, Leigh and Devonya sit down with Freedom Rider and retired Associate Professor of History at Boston College, Paul Breines, to reflect on the evolution of social justice movements from the civil rights struggles of the 1960s to today’s embattled DEIA programs. How did a radical movement for racial justice morph into bureaucratic diversity training? And how should we understand the backlash against DEIA as part of a longer history of reactionary politics?

Is what we’re seeing in today’s political climate a Second Reconstruction or a Second Redemption? The hosts discuss the ideological shifts that have transformed how both the left and right frame issues of race, gender, sexuality, ability, and inclusion—asking whether the language of justice has been co-opted by those seeking to dismantle it. From the Freedom Rides to contemporary campus activism, we dig into what has changed, what remains the same, and whether today’s movements need a more radical edge. What kind of activism does this moment demand?

References & Further Reading

Philosophy, History & Theory

• Immanuel Kant, Groundwork for the Metaphysics of Morals (1785) – foundational text on moral philosophy and universal ethical principles
• W.E.B. Du Bois, Black Reconstruction in America (1935) – on Reconstruction, racial progress, and backlash
• Frantz Fanon, Black Skin, White Masks (1952) – on racial identity, colonial psychology, and the construction of Black subjectivity
• Frantz Fanon, The Wretched of the Earth (1961) – a seminal critique of colonialism and decolonization struggles
• James Baldwin, The Fire Next Time (1963) – reflections on race, activism, and white resistance
• Price M. Cobbs & William H. Grier, Black Rage (1968) – psychological analysis of racial trauma and systemic injustice
• Paul Breines, Tough Jews: Political Fantasies and the Moral Dilemma of American Jewry (1990) – on Jewish identity, power, and radical politics in the U.S.
• Paul Breines, The Young Lukács and the Origins of Western Marxism (1990) – on Lukács’ early philosophy and its influence on Marxist thought
• Angela Davis, Women, Race & Class (1981) – on the intersections of race, gender, and labor activism
• Kimberlé Crenshaw, On Intersectionality (1989) – foundational text on intersectionality and systemic discrimination
• Fred Moten and Stefano Harney, The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning & Black Study (2013) – critique of neoliberal institutions and radical alternatives
• George L. Mosse

Trump Administration’s DEI Rollbacks

• EPA Cancels DEI Grants – Reuters reports on the cancellation of $1.7 billion in DEI and environmental justice grants by the EPA.
• Executive Orders Against DEI – The Guardian lists executive orders signed by President Trump, including those targeting DEI initiatives.
• Civil Rights Groups Sue Over DEI Orders – NBC News covers the lawsuit filed by civil rights organizations challenging the administration’s executive orders against DEI programs.
• Department of Education Shifts Focus – Associated Press discusses the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights shifting priorities under the Trump administration, affecting DEI initiatives.
• Local DEI Efforts Amid Federal Rollbacks – CT Insider highlights how local DEI task forces continue their work despite federal actions against such programs.
• Analysis of Anti-DEI Measures – The Atlantic provides an analysis of the potential overreach in the administration’s anti-DEI stance.
• Executive Order 14151 – Wikipedia details the executive order aimed at eliminating DEI programs within the federal government.
• Revocation of Executive Order 11246 – Wikipedia discusses the rescission of this order, which had prohibited federal contractors from engaging in employment discrimination.
• Executive Order 14173 – Wikipedia outlines the order prohibiting private organizations from conducting DEI employment programs for jobs created by federal contracts.
• First 100 Days of Trump’s Second Term – Wikipedia summarizes the administration’s actions, including those affecting DEI policies.
• National Urban League v. Trump – Wikipedia provides information on the lawsuit challenging the executive orders targeting DEI initiatives.

Politics & Current Events

• The Freedom Rides and Their Legacy – PBS Documentary on the original Freedom Riders and their impact
• Oral Histories of the Freedom Riders – Smithsonian Magazine interviews with participants detailing their experiences
• The Greensboro Sit-Ins: A Defining Moment – National Museum of American History on the 1960 Woolworth lunch counter protest and its role in the Civil Rights Movement
• How the Student Sit-Ins Sparked a Nationwide Movement – History.com on the impact of sit-ins on desegregation efforts
• Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) – SNCC Digital Gateway on SNCC’s history, activism, and key figures in the Civil Rights Movement
• The Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) – CORE’s History and Legacy on its role in organizing Freedom Rides, sit-ins, and voter registration drives
• The Stonewall Riots: A Turning Point – Library of Congress on the historical significance of the 1969 uprising
• Eyewitness Accounts from Stonewall – The New York Times featuring firsthand testimonies from those who were there
• The Backlash Against DEIA Initiatives – The Atlantic on recent political and legal challenges
• Executive Orders Rolling Back DEI in Education – Inside Higher Ed on state-level legislation
• How Conservative Activists Are Fighting DEI Programs – The Guardian on right-wing organizing strategies
• Biden Administration’s DEIA Policy – The White House on federal equity initiatives

Pop Culture & Media

• Rosa Parks and the Long Arc of Activism – NPR on myths and realities of her activism
• The Evolution of Diversity Training – Harvard Business Review on the effectiveness of corporate DEI programs
• Freedom Riders: Then and Now – PBS Documentary on the original Freedom Riders and lessons for contemporary activism