Inarecent interview on CNN’s “Laura Coates Live,” Rep. Jasmine Crockett once again addressed President Donald Trump’s attack on diversity, equity and inclusion, and it’s got many of us nodding vigorously in agreement.
For those who missed it: Crockett asserted that the only people supportive of the dismantling of DEI are those who benefit greatly from failing forward — for example, conveniently enough, the president himself.
“Coddling for the white boys is what’s happening right now,” said Crockett during the interview, not mincing words while responding to the recent appointment of former speech writer and apparent conspiracy theorist Darren Beattie to a top State Department role. Beattie was terminated from his role as Trump’s speechwriter due to his attendance at a meeting attended by white nationalists.
“Listen, if you are competent, you are not concerned,” said Crockett, adding that “mediocre white boys” are the only people attacking DEI initiatives because they “have been beaten out by people that historically have had to work so, so much harder.”
On X, formerly Twitter, droves of comments about a video clip of the interview called to silence Crockett in Congress and suggested that dismantling DEI allows for “merit-based” opportunity — which is exactly what DEI aims to improve — and the good ol’ bootstrap mentality. The reality is that Crockett’s sentiment struck a nerve not just because of the spiciness of her delivery but because of the truth of her words. And we need not look any further than the Oval Office for evidence.
We’ve watched Trump fail forward for years, partially by tricking millions of voters into believing that certain structurally marginalized people are the reason for America’s downfall. He is our most salient example of a white man unfit for the presidency. Yet here he is, in his second term, and this time sliding other unfit men into positions of authority to make significant cuts to federal funding.
Last October, The New York Times released an article that explored why white men without degrees have “fallen behind” in leading the country’s economy. In 1980, the income of a white man without a degree was 7% higher than the average worker. In the last 40 years, it has declined significantly, and that is likely due to the shift in an economy from manufacturing (which white men dominated thanks to discriminatory labor practices) to one based on services and knowledge. The manufacturing economy provided a cushion for white men that guaranteed them success, even if they weren’t the most ambitious. In the time it took for our economy to evolve, other marginalized groups managed to adapt, working hard to earn degrees and positioning ourselves to excel in constantly evolving economies.
Ultimately, the circumstances created by racism and discrimination led many marginalized people to reject mediocrity because mediocrity is not an option for us. This is why we now have data that shows Black women, one of the most marginalized groups in this country, outpace other groups when it comes to earning postsecondary degrees. We cannot afford to sit back and hope the odds become flipped in our favor.
Salty reactions to Crockett’s sentiments reveal how those who oppose DEI don’t want to have to be competent in order to get hired or promoted. Their problem is not with DEI itself, it is in their comfort in being rewarded for simply taking up space.
A system that continuously rewards mediocrity is one that leads to terrible leadership. And instead of being upset at the messenger for telling the truth, that anger should be redirected toward issues that will negatively affect every last one of us — the ones who are competent and the ones who clearly aren’t.