My not-so-secret thoughts on banning the terms “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion”

Dear Georgia Public Schools,

“Cowards!”

An attendee shouted this during the meeting that banned the words “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” (DEI) from Georgia public schools, and I could not agree more with their choice of verbiage.

Although it neighbors Georgia, I was relieved that Florida’s policies stayed within “Ron DeSanctimonious’” borders - until now. This past summer, his ideas to change the education curriculum and erase certain subject matter from classrooms have poured into Georgia like a glass of expired orange juice. In early June, the Georgia Professional Standards Commission voted without discussion to ban the ambiguous terms “diversity,” “equity,” and “inclusion” from the vocabulary of Georgia public school teachers. The reasoning behind the unanimous agreement was the supposed way those words have, according to the University System of Georgia, “taken on multiple unintended meanings.”

It is no surprise that the same people who agree with banning books that discuss the history of racism in America are the ones who do not seem to comprehend the meaning of diversity. I agree that the words can be vague. Some schools may claim they promote DEI but do not actively exemplify efforts to support DEI in the classroom. But there is no doubt that words are meaningful- that much is evident from the 1,477 individual book bans in schools across the United States. Schools that promote DEI can use it as a guideline to prevent “-isms” (racism, sexism, etc.) by not tolerating hateful actions in the classroom.

Intentionality when it comes to inclusion and acceptance is playing an increasingly important role in many aspects of life. This can be seen in the indignant reactions to Christiano Ronaldo signing on with Saudi Arabia (a country known for oppressing women), institutions meeting diversity standards in staff, or more recently, a college visit I took this summer. When visiting my grandfather in Virginia, I stopped by Emory & Henry College to look at their renovations. One of their new buildings had a sign with three bullet points that read: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging - Community Engagement - Women's Center. Perhaps it was the fact that I was in rural Virginia where an increasing amount of Confederate flags waved their welcomes or the fact that I had seen a “Let’s Go Brandon” (a phrase that has become a slogan to insult sitting President Joe Biden) sign a few miles earlier, but a wave of relief washed over me. Even though they were simply words stapled to the side of a building, this place, this house felt like a safe hub in the middle of a very Conservative area.

Particularly because of the appeal to Georgia public universities due to their great scholarship opportunities such as the Hope and Zell Miller combined with in-state tuition, many students in Georgia public schools will stay in Georgia public schools when seeking higher education. Combining the DEI ban as well as the end of affirmative action this past summer, I would be very disappointed but not surprised to see Georgia schools show a lack of commitment to ensure diverse and supportive student bodies.

I wonder what could be so fearsome about those three words. What is so horrifying about a welcoming environment that standards for it need to be banned? Diversity, equity, and inclusion are just about as vague as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, but those words are recited to embody our nation while the other set is erased. If it is not painfully clear, I am saddened by this act and fear for the future of Georgia education and those who are at the head of decision-making. Cowards.

Sincerely,
Natalie