Born from RESISTANCE and designed with PURPOSE.
On January 20, 2025 a screenshot of the official White House government website circulated through the UPRISERS Slack channels.[ FIG. 1 ]
FIG. 1 ‘Executive Order 14151 Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing’ is one of the first presidential actions signed by Donald Trump on his first day in office.[ FIG. 1 ] Source:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/eliminatingwaste-and-saving-taxpayer-dollars-by-consolidating-procurement/
This action directly rescinds Executive Order 13985, officially titled Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and was the first executive order signed by U.S. President Joe Biden on January 20, 2021. [ FIG. 2 ]
“Our country faces converging economic, health, and climate crises that have exposed and exacerbated inequities, while a historic movement for justice has highlighted the unbearable human costs of systemic racism. Our Nation deserves an ambitious whole-of-government equity agenda that matches the scale of the opportunities and challenges that we face… The term “equity” means the consistent and systematic fair, just, and impartial treatment of all individuals, including individuals who belong to underserved communities that have been denied such treatment… and persons otherwise adversely affected by persistent poverty or inequality.” [ FIG. 2 ]
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America as a nation-state has a troubling history of building off of the undervalued labor populations without creating and practicing inclusive environments where every contributor to the American dream feels valued.
If embracing diversity is an exercise in acknowledging that problematic past, and inclusivity is an opportunity for the celebration of America’s rich tapestry of experiences from people whose stories originate from all around the world, then equity could be a collective American social identity that we are proud to present to the world as a model for human potential.
WHAT COULD BE MORE AMERICAN THAN THAT?
As a community that is constantly curious about the stories and perspectives we were not exposed to growing up, we welcome discourse on this topic.
This is a conversation between neighbors and strangers, and so we ask you, ‘How are you exploring your curiosity about your neighbors who may look, speak or behave differently than you?’ ‘How are you interpreting the popularized acronym DEI?’ ‘How has practicing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in your life benefitted you and your community?’ ‘How are we showing up for each other?’ ‘How are YOU showing up for yourself?’
HAVE A RADICAL DAY!
