Ah, America, land of the free, home of the brave, and apparently, ground zero for dismantling anything resembling progress. Enter stage left: the “Dismantle DEI Act,” the latest masterpiece in the Theater of White Supremacy, penned by none other than Congressman Michael Cloud and given a Senate encore by Senator J.D. Vance. If you thought we were done with performative politics dressed as governance, think again. This isn’t just a bill—it’s a love letter to historical erasure, signed, sealed, and delivered by those who see equity, justice, and inclusion as an existential threat.
What kind of nation are we, you ask? One where the question itself is buried deeper than the textbooks trying to convince us that slavery was just an unpaid internship. This bill, in all its Orwellian glory, seeks to obliterate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—three words that apparently strike fear into the hearts of those still clinging to the glory days of segregation and “whites-only” lunch counters. What does it mean for a country that’s built its empire on stolen land and stolen labor to dismantle DEI? It’s like the arsonist showing up with marshmallows and asking why the fire department ruined the barbecue.
Growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, I’ve seen this play before. It’s a city where the streets are named after oppressors, but the history books barely remember the resisters. Here, Confederate ghosts and Civil Rights heroes coexist in a tragicomic paradox. Progress in America has always been a dance: one step forward, two steps back, and a slap in the face for good measure. The “Dismantle DEI Act” is just the latest rendition of this tired choreography.
And let’s not kid ourselves, these folks know the script well. Act I: sow division. Act II: disguise bigotry in the silky language of “fairness.” Act III: consolidate power for the usual suspects. It’s a well-rehearsed tragedy, and now they’re pulling lines straight out of the Project 2025 playbook, which should really be subtitled “How to Undo Civil Rights Without Breaking a Sweat.”
But here’s the kicker: this legislation isn’t just bad, it’s laughably transparent. Banning workplace programs, silencing advocacy groups, and tanking opportunities for minority and women-owned businesses, all under the guise of “equality”? It’s like setting the table for dinner and then stealing all the chairs. But don’t worry, they’ll tell you it’s for your own good. After all, equality is a zero-sum game in their world, and heaven forbid someone else gets a slice of the pie.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about fairness; it’s about fear. Fear of a future where power is shared, where the oppressed are no longer asking, “Please, sir, may I have some rights?” No, this is about ensuring that the status quo remains intact, that privilege continues to be the birthright of white people while the rest of us are left scrambling for crumbs.
To Congressman Cloud and Senator Vance, I say this: you can wrap your bigotry in all the “equality” rhetoric you want, but the mask is slipping. History will not remember you as champions of democracy but as footnotes in the long saga of those who stood on the wrong side of justice.
And to the rest of us, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The arc of the moral universe doesn’t bend itself, y’all. It requires all of us pulling, pushing, and refusing to let go. So, let me ask you this: while they’re dismantling progress, are you ready to build something greater?
Because I am. And trust me, I’ve got my pulling gloves on.
About the Author
Anneshia Hardy is a narrative strategist, scholar-activist, and social impact entrepreneur committed to leveraging storytelling and messaging for transformative social change. As Executive Director of grassroots communications and media advocacy organizations, Alabama Values and Alabama Values Progress, she leads efforts to strengthen the pro-democracy movement in Alabama and across the South through strategic messaging and digital strategies.
Co-founder of Blackyard LLC, Anneshia equips changemakers to amplify their impact in marginalized communities. With over a decade of experience, she has conducted narrative and messaging trainings for organizations like the NAACP and the Obama Foundation. Anneshia has also shaped strategies for landmark voting rights cases, including Allen v. Milligan. Rooted in the belief that culturally relevant narratives can drive equity and inspire action, she bridges academic insight and real-world advocacy to create lasting change.