For progressive Democrats, the ones who pushed hardest for racial justice in corporations, universities and government agencies, things are looking pretty bleak right now.
Dozens of Republican-led states have passed laws banning programs and initiatives that would level the playing field for people of color. Dozens of corporations have been backing away from diversity, equity and inclusion, most recently Walmart Inc., the nation’s largest private employer. Last week, the University of Michigan, which has one of the largest DEI programs in the country, announced it will stop requiring diversity statements in faculty hiring and promotion.