By Upendra Mishra
BOSTON–Recently, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a directive that, while cloaked in the language of civil rights, is aimed squarely at dismantling the very efforts that have helped millions of Americans begin to overcome centuries of discrimination.
The DOJ’s guidance warns that organizations receiving federal funds could lose them if they pursue diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives that acknowledge race, gender, or other historically marginalized identities.
Let’s be clear: this is not a defense of equality. It is a dangerous and deliberate rollback of hard-fought progress. Already, universities like the University of Denver are pulling back scholarships and DEI training. George Mason University has been accused of violating civil rights law for hiring policies that sought fairness, not favoritism. And the Supreme Court just allowed the federal government to gut more than $780 million in NIH grants—many tied to DEI-related public health research—potentially costing lives and halting breakthroughs in science and medicine.
This is the beginning of a broad, ideological campaign to erase the very tools that have helped close gaps in education, healthcare, employment, and justice. And unless Americans speak up—loudly, clearly, and together—it won’t stop here. DEI programs are not about exclusion; they are about expanding opportunity. They exist not to divide Americans, but to make sure every American—regardless of background—has a fair shot. Whether you’re a first-generation college student, a woman in STEM, a veteran transitioning to civilian life, or a person of color working twice as hard to get half as far—DEI is about you.
It’s about giving everyone the tools to succeed, not tipping the scales. And now, more than ever, we need to unite. Black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American. Urban and rural. Young and old. Liberal and conservative. This is not a partisan issue—it is an American issue. The strength of this nation has always come from its people. Not just a privileged few—but all of us, working together, striving together, building together.
If we abandon DEI, we risk turning back the clock on decades of progress. We risk losing the promise of what America can be: a true powerhouse of innovation, opportunity, and human dignity. Not because we are all the same—but because we are all equally valued. This is the time for courage. For compassion. For conviction.
We urge every educator, every employer, every leader—and every citizen—to reject fear-based politics and stand up for the future. To recommit to building an America where every person, from every walk of life, has the freedom and the real opportunity to thrive.
America cannot—and must not—go back.
It must move forward. Together.
(Upendra Mishra is the author of After the Fall: How Owen Lost Everything and Found What Really Matters and Precise Marketing: The Proven System for Growing Revenue in a Noisy World. He is managing partner of The Mishra Group, and recently founded DEI Boston Charity Fund to support DEI initiatives. Learn more at www.UpendraMishra.com)
