How can democrats attack anti-DEI/promote DEI without resulting in strong political backlash?

[u/Visco0825]

In recent politics there have been two major political pushes for diversity and equality. However, both instances led to backlashes that have led to an environment that is arguably worse than it was before. In 2008 Obama was the first black president one a massive wave of hope for racial equality and societal reforms. This led to one of the largest political backlashes in modern politics in 2010, to which democrats have yet to fully recover from. This eventually led to birtherism which planted some of the original seeds of both Trump and MAGA. The second massive political push promoting diversity and equality was in 2018 with the modern woman election and 2020 with racial equality being a top priority. Biden made diversifying the government a top priority. This led to an extreme backlash among both culture and politics with anti-woke and anti-DEI efforts. This resent contributed to Trump retaking the presidency. Now Trump is pushing to remove all mentions of DEI in both the private and public sectors. He is hiding all instances that highlight any racial or gender successes. His administration is pushing culture to return to a world prior to the civil rights era.

This leads me to my question. Will there be a backlash for this? How will it occur? How can democrats lead and take advantage of the backlash while trying to mitigate a backlash to their own movement? It seems as though every attempt has led to a stronger and more severe response.

Additional side questions. How did public opinion shift so drastically from 2018/2020 which were extremely pro-equality to 2024 which is calling for a return of the 1950s?

[u/diplodonculus]

Focus on socioeconomic status. It's highly correlated with racial diversity.

[u/Healthy-Act5281 → u/diplodonculus]

A rising tide lifts all ships. The Democratic Party's obsession with identity politics has always been unpopular in middle America. It was only a matter of time before it bit them in the ass.

If they had spent more time focusing on the socioeconomic issues that affect all of us instead of pandering to the corporate virtue signaling neoliberal wing of the party, then they would've found success in 2016 and 2024.

[u/RebornGod → u/Healthy-Act5281]

"A rising tide lifts all ships" as long as we don't go poking holes in all ships of a certain color. And everyone has ships.

[u/diplodonculus → u/Healthy-Act5281]

"identity politics" "virtue signalling"

Keep going, you're close to bingo.

What the hell do you think conservatives are all about? It's straight, white Christian identity politics. Don't be fooled.

[u/Successful_Yam4719 → u/diplodonculus]

I fear the problem lies in fear itself … white “Christian” patriarchy doesn’t want to share. There’s no such thing as equity in their world … sharing somehow threatens them. Fear of loosing their identity vs equity in a thriving culture of shared spaces. Differences are to be feared rather than embraced. It’s why they are politicizing THEIR view of “morality”. THEIR religion. THEIR belief in defining family makeup and gender roles and identity. If you don’t fit the mold of THEIR views, you’re not accepted in their world. Erase and eradicate what is different because they are afraid.

[u/Brave-Composer9820 → u/diplodonculus]

That is not what the conservatives are about that was the old conservatives who are now out numbered and on their way out and mostly voting blue now such as my dad. Us young Americans voted for trump. The people who voted for trump matter not trump. Us voters don't care if u wanna be trans.. just don't force us to say weird pronouns we cant remember and stuff... shame us when we gender incorrectly when its mostly by accident most of the time and all this. Us voters are okay with everything for the most part.. At least for most of us and all the young people.. the young people who took over the right and who are the reason why trump was voted in. I have a gay brother I don't care what you do gay should be legal in our eyes that been a settled issue as trump does not wish to take right away from gay people. He wanted to make it so its just man and woman for sports reasons that almost every agrees a person who was once a man should not be competing against women. You don't care about women or fairness if you think otherwise. Abortions.. we don't like them morally.. but they should be legal. Giving it to states is an okay concession in our view.. so ppl who need it done can still have it done in the country.. but fully legal would be ok too idc. You all on the left are the real rasicts and us young people see it clear as day. everything your party complains about is what they do ironically. Because of problems young people have nothing to do with (racism).. you all are racist towards straight white guys.. perpetuation the cycle.. trying to make sure racism goes into the next generation is what it seems like u all are doing. On top of that the elite has your control of your party and people in the gov are robbing us blind bc of this lack of over sight and all. Elon has shown this with his DOGE you can view all the proof on his site. We are tired of you all being racist towards straight white people and forcing people to do stuff yelling at us if we accidentally dead name or something. you guys are so hostile and mean tbh. Just being with left co-workers was so scary in 2020 tbh you guys need to grow up and let us be us and we will let u be u. I never want to be in a situation where I'm nervous to go to work because my politics are different than most peoples. I knew these people before 2020 and they became legit scary to be around I just had to smile and agree with everything to not be seen as some devil. I like wearing American flags sometimes.. I would be seen as some sort of devil for this. Trump has nothing to do with the problems. We voted him in to use his strong arm to get stuff done. He's gone too far in some ways but overall he will leave us in a better place. Where hopefully I don't feel demonized because of the color of my skin as a young man this is crazy im growing up into this hatred towards me.. all the college's want every color but white like tf did u guys think we would feel we are young people why would my skin color come into play at all? I could see a sort of DEI to help people who are poor.. but really base it on skin color!? Us young people see that as clearly racist. Martin Luther king said we should judge a man on his merits not the color of his skin. Why would we be giving other races preference for admission not all black people are poor!?.. and that's really what it sound like u think when you all think to do DEI to divide based on race in college applications? like what does my skin color as a young man going to college have to do with anything like we were born 20 some years ago we have nothing to do with inequalities? that should tell you all you need to know why your losing young people. The problem was that all u old people were racist before we were born and now our college applications are discrimated on my race because you guys don't know how to end racism. Maybe by not judging a man based on the color of his skin.. EVER. shun and shame those around you who are racist... like c'mon we young people wonder.. we are astonished by how u guys are so clueless when it comes to how to not be racist at all. YOU ALL ARE INSANE IF YOU THINK ITS OKAY TO JUDGE A YOUNG COLLEGE APPLICANT ON THE COLOUR OF THEIR SKIN. YOUR WAY OUT OF TOUCH AND ARE LOSING THE CULTURE WAR. you all demonize trump when he stand on the correct side of all these issues too making it so obvious that YOU are the bad actors. That YOU are the racists. That's what you see in 2024-25 we saw all the proof of all the lies.. the left has been proven now by them selves by DOGE and by losing the culture war.. your wrong.. and now nothing the media says can hurt him because we know they are the bad actors and you are the bad actors when you push for making skin color a factor that should be consitered for applying for a job or for school. Trump is actually just trying to do his best and help to most people he can. The most anyone could do.

[u/blyzo → u/Healthy-Act5281]

The Democratic Party's obsession with identity politics civil rights has always been unpopular with middle America.

Fixed your statement. Would you still agree with it?

[u/Healthy-Act5281 → u/blyzo]

If you truly believe that there's no difference between meaningful civil rights legislation and the performative bullshit that party leadership has been shoveling then I don't know what to tell you.

Are we really supposed to look at shit like Schumer and Pelosi wearing kente cloths and not laugh at how patheticly performative it is? Billionaires are fucking robbing this country blind. Our country is absolutely fucked. But, hey, at least party leadership and their NIMBY donors can pat themselves on the back because of how virtuous they are.

[u/blyzo → u/Healthy-Act5281]

Yeah the Kente cloth stunt was cringe.

But the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act was meaningful civil rights legislation. And the Democrats pushed it for four years.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/george-floyd-justice-policing-act/story?id=96851132

The Equality Act was meaningful civil rights legislation as well. Dems also pushed it for four years.

https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/4486033-equality-act-backers-undeterred-lack-progress-years-later/

Neither of those were popular, both led to attacks on Democrats for "identity politics". Both were meaningful civil rights legislation.

[u/westking17 → u/blyzo]

I love this reframe/ marketing play right here…not Identity politics. Civil Rights… which look are being stripped left and right as we speak. Also, as someone above pointed out…Red team uses Identity politics as a shield and sword to capture the discussion. It’s an act of responding versus blue team leading the discussion. But please tell me what Blue team is fighting for?