I moved from Washington State to teach in the Florida higher education system in the mid-90s. By the second year there, I became clinically depressed. I would teach during the week, including large numbers of African American students, and Puerto Rican students, then go home and cry all weekend. I finally realized that Florida was a state whose unspoken rules resulted in oppression of women, minorities, enlightened thinking, and the environment. I concluded that the portion of the country that based its economic system on the enslavement of others lost part of its soul, and that soullessness has been passed on from generation to generation and has become a way of being. America will not recover its soul until we stand up and acknowledge the truth that our country was built on the backs of slaves, and our country destroyed the majority of indigenous people in the belief that whites were superior. A small but powerful group of white men keep telling the lies that they are superior. By the way, none of their beliefs have anything to do with understanding the true ministry of Jesus, which was based on healing, love, acceptance of one's neighbor, justice for the poor, and compassion. DEI efforts have moved the needle slowly and incrementally in the direction our country needs to go. We need restore those efforts and embrace the richness that diversity contributes to everyone.
There is a faith based social justice organization called Sojourners that has been advocating for racial and ethnic justice for many years. To find it go to sojo.net
Unfortunately, a large number of black men voted for him, according to many news articles and polls. Is it possible that just as many black men are prejudiced against black women?
Native Americans need attention in the discussion. We aimed to kill them off back in the 1800s and then imposed one horrible policy after another on their communities, families, lands.
I speculate that the Office of Management & Budget, now headed by the Project 2025 lead architect, saw the word “Indian” and said “cut.”
I grew up in New Mexico and Native Americans are real to me in a way that doesn’t seem to be the case for white and Black people in other parts of this country. Nothing I’ve said changes your argument—this is about who else other than Blacks gets included in DEI and who else has suffered terribly because of the policies and actions of white people.
DEI is the latest shorthand term for "other", anyone who is not of identical mindset to the Trump cult. It must be added to the unacceptability of anyone on the LGBQT spectrum or Democrats in general, as far as they are concerned. Remember, it's always someone or some group to blame when the warped goals of MAGA fail to get their desired results.
Thank you- so much discussion- your article is clear. I have had several white males tell me why they didn’t vote fir Hillary or Kamala- none of the answers added up.
As a white woman athlete in 1978- I was part of the Title 9 “interviews/surveys”. My nieces & daughter benefitted. As a professional white woman in landscape architecture & engineering I benefitted - yet often heard those “whispers” I thought we finally cleared these barriers- so hard to see t-47/emusk and republican women trying hard to put the barriers back☹️
Thank you for speaking truth to power. White men control substantially all of the wealth and power in this country. But you'd never know it based on white supremacist Trump, his compadre apartheid Musk and the legions of bigoted MAGA and GOP faithful.
Susan Rice made it abundantly clear what DEI meant and who is impacted when DEI is eliminated ... pretty much everyone. The WH and enablers hiding behind the marketing words of creating a more merit based system is laughable. Especially when you think of Hegseth, RFK Jr, Gabbard and Patel as recently confirmed members of the administration.
"“You have to be twice as good as them to get half of what they have.”
"The ancestors of our Black brothers and sisters did not ask to come to this country. White supremacist brought them here against their will. I can’t help but think how poor we would be as a country if they all had gathered up their few belongings and went back to their native lands at the end of the civil war. I don’t know all that they have contributed to America however, I know how poor my life would have been without them.
I grew up in the south during the days of segregation. I can’t remember a time when Edna and her sister, Ethel weren’t a part of my life. Edna was my nanny and Ethel, her sister, was my sister’s nanny. I spent more of my time with them than I did with my parents. They loved us as if we were their own children and we loved them with our whole hearts.
We had other people in the house who took wonderful care of us and our needs that were also a different color than us and I remember clearly asking my father why we were of different colors. My father told me that we are like flowers in a garden, diverse. He told me that human beings would die of boredom if we all looked alike, were the same color, shape, etc. God, in His wisdom, had made us each the way we are so that we could enjoy together, learn from each other, share the same earth, sun, sand, and breath the same air. Like flowers in a beautiful garden, one is not less than the other, and that we need each other. None of us is complete alone.
Donald J. Trump’s mother was an immigrant to this country. She was born in Scotland and came here as an adult. Your and my ancestors immigrated to this country. Even our indigenous brothers and sisters’ ancestors immigrated from somewhere else.
I can't help but wonder how people who have so much, don't ever think they have enough or think they are better than someone else.
Those who discriminate for whatever reason, need to go read what is written on the New Colossus, that lady that stands in our port of entry, the one we call the Statue of Liberty.
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
Lovely, thank you for the full poem. My Greek ancestors prospered (and still do) because of the journey past that glorious statue to Ellis island. While their crossing was desperate but voluntary, my heart is devastated for the horrible crossing black Americans made. When I think about this (my Greek mother was considered black in Deep South Georgia and abused for it) horrible inequity, I just want to vomit. We have a lot of people making this a shitty country and right now the shitholes are in charge. Sadly, the shitholes aren’t all (but mostly) white, some are black, some are Latino, some are Asian, some are Russian. Perhaps it is time to look at this with the good people and the not so good people. Orange turd and his ilk - definitely not good. Call them whatever name you want to call them - it all means, NOT GOOD. I pray that we can elect people who will change this and that those people exist. More fervently, I pray we have an election. Shame on all those officials trying to remove voting rights - uhhhhh, for instance GA, NC, WI, MI, LA, NV and many more disgusting red states. I wish they were on the bottom of a boat shackled to the oars rowing to a land they did not choose to inhabit. Because they are the very assholes still trying to keep former slave offspring, women and minority citizens from voting. Fie on them, 2026 is coming.
Carron- Your piece is profound and needs to be more openly discussed. I was thrilled to see a Saginaw, Michigan native in the Contrarian. I will look for your writing in other spaces. Thank you
Disabled people were finally able to come out of hiding. I suppose now all curb cuts for wheelchairs & walkers will be filled in. Other kinds of helps will be made illegal & trashed.
I moved from Washington State to teach in the Florida higher education system in the mid-90s. By the second year there, I became clinically depressed. I would teach during the week, including large numbers of African American students, and Puerto Rican students, then go home and cry all weekend. I finally realized that Florida was a state whose unspoken rules resulted in oppression of women, minorities, enlightened thinking, and the environment. I concluded that the portion of the country that based its economic system on the enslavement of others lost part of its soul, and that soullessness has been passed on from generation to generation and has become a way of being. America will not recover its soul until we stand up and acknowledge the truth that our country was built on the backs of slaves, and our country destroyed the majority of indigenous people in the belief that whites were superior. A small but powerful group of white men keep telling the lies that they are superior. By the way, none of their beliefs have anything to do with understanding the true ministry of Jesus, which was based on healing, love, acceptance of one's neighbor, justice for the poor, and compassion. DEI efforts have moved the needle slowly and incrementally in the direction our country needs to go. We need restore those efforts and embrace the richness that diversity contributes to everyone.
There is a faith based social justice organization called Sojourners that has been advocating for racial and ethnic justice for many years. To find it go to sojo.net
Thanks so much, Sharon. I know of this organization but will pay more attention to it per your suggestion. Carol
Endemic race hate was the rocket fuel that propelled the golfing felon back into the Whitehouse.
Unfortunately, a large number of black men voted for him, according to many news articles and polls. Is it possible that just as many black men are prejudiced against black women?
Stockholm Syndrome laced with myopia.
Be careful what you wish for because you might get it.
And it's what put him there in the first place.
Thank you SO MUCH for stating the obvious, an obvious that sadly sails above most folks' heads.
The depths of not-acknowledged racism within so many souls at this point in the human story breaks my heart.
Native Americans need attention in the discussion. We aimed to kill them off back in the 1800s and then imposed one horrible policy after another on their communities, families, lands.
The Trump administration targeted the Indian Health Service, first intending to cut all probationary employees and then narrowing that group somewhat. All the cuts have now been walked back. https://www.mprnews.org/story/2025/02/17/rfk-jr-rescinds-indian-health-service-layoffs
I speculate that the Office of Management & Budget, now headed by the Project 2025 lead architect, saw the word “Indian” and said “cut.”
I grew up in New Mexico and Native Americans are real to me in a way that doesn’t seem to be the case for white and Black people in other parts of this country. Nothing I’ve said changes your argument—this is about who else other than Blacks gets included in DEI and who else has suffered terribly because of the policies and actions of white people.
DEI is the latest shorthand term for "other", anyone who is not of identical mindset to the Trump cult. It must be added to the unacceptability of anyone on the LGBQT spectrum or Democrats in general, as far as they are concerned. Remember, it's always someone or some group to blame when the warped goals of MAGA fail to get their desired results.
Thank you- so much discussion- your article is clear. I have had several white males tell me why they didn’t vote fir Hillary or Kamala- none of the answers added up.
As a white woman athlete in 1978- I was part of the Title 9 “interviews/surveys”. My nieces & daughter benefitted. As a professional white woman in landscape architecture & engineering I benefitted - yet often heard those “whispers” I thought we finally cleared these barriers- so hard to see t-47/emusk and republican women trying hard to put the barriers back☹️
Thank you for speaking truth to power. White men control substantially all of the wealth and power in this country. But you'd never know it based on white supremacist Trump, his compadre apartheid Musk and the legions of bigoted MAGA and GOP faithful.
Susan Rice made it abundantly clear what DEI meant and who is impacted when DEI is eliminated ... pretty much everyone. The WH and enablers hiding behind the marketing words of creating a more merit based system is laughable. Especially when you think of Hegseth, RFK Jr, Gabbard and Patel as recently confirmed members of the administration.
"“You have to be twice as good as them to get half of what they have.”
"The ancestors of our Black brothers and sisters did not ask to come to this country. White supremacist brought them here against their will. I can’t help but think how poor we would be as a country if they all had gathered up their few belongings and went back to their native lands at the end of the civil war. I don’t know all that they have contributed to America however, I know how poor my life would have been without them.
I grew up in the south during the days of segregation. I can’t remember a time when Edna and her sister, Ethel weren’t a part of my life. Edna was my nanny and Ethel, her sister, was my sister’s nanny. I spent more of my time with them than I did with my parents. They loved us as if we were their own children and we loved them with our whole hearts.
We had other people in the house who took wonderful care of us and our needs that were also a different color than us and I remember clearly asking my father why we were of different colors. My father told me that we are like flowers in a garden, diverse. He told me that human beings would die of boredom if we all looked alike, were the same color, shape, etc. God, in His wisdom, had made us each the way we are so that we could enjoy together, learn from each other, share the same earth, sun, sand, and breath the same air. Like flowers in a beautiful garden, one is not less than the other, and that we need each other. None of us is complete alone.
Donald J. Trump’s mother was an immigrant to this country. She was born in Scotland and came here as an adult. Your and my ancestors immigrated to this country. Even our indigenous brothers and sisters’ ancestors immigrated from somewhere else.
I can't help but wonder how people who have so much, don't ever think they have enough or think they are better than someone else.
Those who discriminate for whatever reason, need to go read what is written on the New Colossus, that lady that stands in our port of entry, the one we call the Statue of Liberty.
"Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
Lovely, thank you for the full poem. My Greek ancestors prospered (and still do) because of the journey past that glorious statue to Ellis island. While their crossing was desperate but voluntary, my heart is devastated for the horrible crossing black Americans made. When I think about this (my Greek mother was considered black in Deep South Georgia and abused for it) horrible inequity, I just want to vomit. We have a lot of people making this a shitty country and right now the shitholes are in charge. Sadly, the shitholes aren’t all (but mostly) white, some are black, some are Latino, some are Asian, some are Russian. Perhaps it is time to look at this with the good people and the not so good people. Orange turd and his ilk - definitely not good. Call them whatever name you want to call them - it all means, NOT GOOD. I pray that we can elect people who will change this and that those people exist. More fervently, I pray we have an election. Shame on all those officials trying to remove voting rights - uhhhhh, for instance GA, NC, WI, MI, LA, NV and many more disgusting red states. I wish they were on the bottom of a boat shackled to the oars rowing to a land they did not choose to inhabit. Because they are the very assholes still trying to keep former slave offspring, women and minority citizens from voting. Fie on them, 2026 is coming.
Thank you for telling the truth.
Carron- Your piece is profound and needs to be more openly discussed. I was thrilled to see a Saginaw, Michigan native in the Contrarian. I will look for your writing in other spaces. Thank you
Disabled people were finally able to come out of hiding. I suppose now all curb cuts for wheelchairs & walkers will be filled in. Other kinds of helps will be made illegal & trashed.
The idea of a federal holiday for Trump's birthday is revolting, but should it come to pass, I will use that holiday to protest.
Thank you! I feel like we are living under the revenge of the white males in our politics. The FAA employee stats are quite enlightening!
Call it what it is. Fascism.
Bravo!
And that sermon by Warnock was outstanding.