In a blogpost entitled Discrimination, I stated:
My dad (black), late stepmom (black), and late mom (white) told me stories about their experience living under Jim Crow laws when residing in Texas. What I found interesting was that it wasn’t entirely the will of the people who demanded discriminatory measures, as these laws represented mandated racial segregation practices from government authorities.
In the post, I addressed what I consider to be one of the most egregious aspects of Jim Crow laws – the fact that tyranny from the United States (U.S.) government allowed for people to be treated disparately on the basis of an immutable characteristic such as racial identity.
Fortunately, the last of the Jim Crow laws were overturned in 1965, before I was born. However, discriminatory tyranny from government and other actors didn’t merely fade away forevermore after that moment in time which many people consider a contemptible U.S. historical period.
Unfortunately, measures relating to diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility (DEIA and derivatives thereunto, i.e., DEI) have been instituted at federal, state, and local levels of the U.S. government for a number of years. Even private corporations have joined in on these practices.
If one were to evaluate the utility of DEIA programs, use of the scientific method would serve as one instrument to determine whether or not discriminating against (mostly) white men while artificially favoring non-white people is a valuable course of action for society.
Thankfully, one source assessed a number of studies concerning DEIA and its authors concluded:
The evidence presented in these studies reveals that while purporting to combat bias, some anti-oppressive DEI narratives can engender a hostile attribution bias and heighten racial suspicion, prejudicial attitudes, authoritarian policing, and support for punitive behaviors in the absence of evidence for a transgression deserving punishment. Although not addressed in the studies reported herein, it is also possible that these factors are mutually reinforcing and spread through social contagion.
Although one could’ve logically and reasonably concluded that treating some groups unfavorably while treating other groups favorably would likely stir tensions, as was the case in regard to Jim Crow laws, it’s useful to have data which suggest discriminatory measures cause adverse outcomes.
Alas, those who clung to power in the Jim Crow era and who likely didn’t desire to give up their oppressive power and control fought against the dismantling actions which tore down state-sponsored tyranny. So, too, may it be that proponents of DEIA could resist efforts to disassemble oppression.
Noteworthy, I live in Austin, Texas which is located in Travis County. According to one source, “[Kamala] Harris won in Travis County with 68.62% of the votes” in the 2024 U.S. presidential election.
Of course, I’m not surprised that the majority of people in Austin voted in such a manner. Per one source, “The most liberal city in Texas is Austin. It has long been known as a liberal haven and has been dubbed the— ‘Blueberry in the Texas Tomato Soup.”
Given this perspective, I wasn’t astonished to learn that the Austin American-Statesman recently featured an opinion piece titled “Thanks to Republicans, white males will again dominate leadership roles” and which stated:
Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) has much in common with the Golden Rule of treating others as we would want to be treated ourselves. However, most Republicans have recast DEI as some sort of demonic plot against meritorious whites − males in particular […] Hence, white males will again dominate important leadership posts in the U.S. Congress and on the executive side.
I wasn’t alive in 1965, though I imagine that opinions similar to that featured in the Austin American-Statesman will resoundingly oppose anti-oppression measures in 2025. One suspects that those who value tyranny rarely give it up without engaging in conflict, even if only rhetorical.
Imagine being this oblivious, as to compare the Golden Rule—treating others as you want to be treated—is anything like DEIA that suppresses one group’s success in favor of another group. These measures are nothing alike.
Also, what is inferred when suggesting that removal of discriminatory practices will predictably result in a disadvantage for nonwhite individuals? One perceives this as an ostensible form of the soft bigotry of low expectations. It seems a bit, I don’t know, condescendingly racist. Then again, what do I know?
I’m merely the biracial product of a black man and white woman who lived through the Jim Crow era, as I served my country in the U.S. Marine Corps, I subsequently earned three higher education degrees, and I now own and operate a psychotherapy practice in Austin.
Hearing the opinions of fellow citizens of Austin – as I don’t consider myself an “Austinite,” because I’m from Bomb City, Texas – I’m reminded of a quote from el-Hajj Malik el-Shabazz (also known as Malcolm X):
That white person that you see calling himself a liberal is the most dangerous thing in the entire Western Hemisphere. He’s the most deceitful. He’s like a fox and a fox is always more dangerous in the forest than the wolf. You can see the wolf coming, you know what he’s up to, but the fox will fool you. He comes at you with his mouth shaped in such a way that even though you see his teeth, you think he’s smiling and take him for a friend.
I, for one, am jubilant to witness DEIA starting to be dismantled. One imagines it was a similar experience for those who detested tyranny and oppression when observing Jim Crow laws being torn to pieces.
I suppose it’s a good thing that imagining being oblivious about this matter takes place only within my imagination. How about you? Are you joyous about the pending end to oppression in the form of DEIA? Or, as el-Shabazz described, are you smiling like a fox?
If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.
As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.
At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!
Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW
References:
FOX 7 Austin. (2024, November 7). 2024 presidential election: How Central Texas counties voted compared to past elections. FOX Television Stations. Retrieved from https://www.fox7austin.com/election/central-texas-president-vote-2024
Heller, T. (2020, July 29). Malcolm X : “White liberals are the most dangerous thing in the entire Western Hemisphere” [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Vdc-q3biLm8?si=lv0ixUFPUUHGAF-4
Hollings, D. (2023, May 11). Catering to DEIA. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/catering-to-deia
Hollings, D. (2024, October 27). Correlation does not imply causation. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/correlation-does-not-imply-causation
Hollings, D. (2022, March 15). Disclaimer. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/disclaimer
Hollings, D. (2024, April 2). Discrimination. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/discrimination
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Fair use. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/fair-use
Hollings, D. (2023, October 12). Get better. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/get-better
Hollings, D. (n.d.). Hollings Therapy, LLC [Official website]. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/
Hollings, D. (2023, September 19). Life coaching. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/life-coaching
Hollings, D. (2023, September 8). Lived experience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/lived-experience
Hollings, D. (2023, January 8). Logic and reason. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/logic-and-reason
Hollings, D. (2023, May 9). Malcolm in the middle. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/malcolm-in-the-middle
Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings
Hollings, D. (2024, May 5). Psychotherapist. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/psychotherapist
Hollings, D. (2023, August 6). The science. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-science
Hollings, D. (2024, February 27). The soft bigotry of low expectations. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-soft-bigotry-of-low-expectations
Jagdeep, A., Jagneep, A., Lazarus, S., Zecher, M., Fedida, O., Fihrer, G., Vasko, C., Finkelstein, J., Finkelstein, D. S., Yanovsky, S., Jussim, L., Paresky, P., and Viswanathan, I. (2024, November 25). Instructing animosity: How DEI pedagogy produces the hostile attribution bias. Rutgers University. Retrieved from https://networkcontagion.us/wp-content/uploads/Instructing-Animosity_11.13.24.pdf
PropertyClub. (2024, May 9). 10 most liberal cities in Texas. Retrieved from https://propertyclub.nyc/article/most-liberal-cities-in-texas
Rex_The_Furry. (2023). White fox [Image]. NightCafe. Retrieved from https://creator.nightcafe.studio/creation/KyHcaLLDrmVdnCL4p0kg
Shackelford, S. (2024, December 30). Thanks to Republicans, white males will again dominate leadership roles. Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved from https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/letters/2024/12/30/american-statesman-letters-to-the-editor-dec-29-2024/77233733007/
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Jim Crow laws. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Crow_laws
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Kamala Harris. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kamala_Harris
Comments