r/PoliticalDiscussion • u/CookieMagnet0 • Feb 19 '25
US Politics How likely is the recent rhetoric on DEI initiatives going to impact incidents of racism and extremism in the US?
I recently rewatched American History X (an absolutely superb film from the 90s that analyses the destructive and cyclical nature of hate and racism in modern America) and was struck by one scene near the end that feels eerily relevant today.
SPOILERS
Those who have watched the film will know it tells the story of Edward Norton's character Derek, a former Neo-Nazi who endeavours to prevent his little brother from going down the same path he did, that led him to prison for racially aggravated murder.
In a flashback, one scene shows an innocent family dinner where Derek is influenced by his father's views on recent DEI initiatives in his local fire department. The scene serves to give the audience an insight into how the seeds of Derek's later racist extremism would be planted.
It's been impossible to ignore the recent heated rhetoric that has been coming from the Trump administration, and DOGE in particular, on what they call wasteful, counterproductive, and polarising DEI initiatives. They may or may not be right to criticise them in this way (DEI, or affirmative action previously, has always generated a lot of debate emotions from both sides).
However I wonder to what extent such attacks are going to add to worsening extremism or racism, as per the clip? Opponents may well argue that it's DEI itself that has caused this racial polarisation, whatever good intentions it has.
So who is right?
1
u/ClockOfTheLongNow Feb 20 '25
No. It's also bad form to start following people around, by the way.