When we remove DEI, we remove the mechanisms that ensure underrepresented students see themselves in the curriculum, that educators are trained to serve multicultural classrooms and that universities foster environments where all students, regardless of background, can succeed.
As the Trump administration moves to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, we must ask ourselves: What is the true purpose of education? Is it to empower students with knowledge, critical thinking and historical truth? Or is it to reinforce systems that selectively present history, omitting the uncomfortable truths that shape our present?
DEI policies exist because history has demonstrated that education has not always been accessible, equitable or honest for all students. The rollback of these initiatives under the guise of eliminating “indoctrination” is, in fact, a deliberate effort to silence perspectives that challenge the status quo. If we are to be a nation that values education, then we must ensure that learning is rooted in truth, not in exclusionary narratives that ignore systemic injustices.
Education Is Not Indoctrination, But Erasing DEI Is
A quality education does not exist in a vacuum. It must be inclusive, accessible, reflective of multiple perspectives and committed to truth. Critics of DEI argue that it forces ideological agendas onto students, but that argument collapses under scrutiny. Teaching history accurately, acknowledging slavery, segregation, redlining and racial disparities, is not indoctrination. It is education on American history.
Conversely, the removal of DEI policies sends the message that certain histories, experiences and contributions do not matter. This is not an attempt to foster neutrality; it is an effort to uphold an exclusionary framework. When we remove DEI, we remove the mechanisms that ensure underrepresented students see themselves in the curriculum, that educators are trained to serve multicultural classrooms and that universities foster environments where all students, regardless of background, can succeed.
A truly effective education policy would ensure that every child, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or background, receives a quality education that is rooted in historical accuracy, not historical readjustment.
Banning DEI Is an Attack on Educational Equity
The push to eradicate DEI initiatives is more than a policy shift; it is an attack on fairness in education. The reality is that America’s educational institutions have long failed to serve all students equally. Data consistently shows disparities in funding, geographic location and academic achievement along racial and socioeconomic lines.
DEI initiatives address these disparities by promoting culturally responsive teaching, increasing access to resources for marginalized students, and encouraging staff diversity. When the Trump administration labels these efforts as unnecessary or divisive, it ignores the fact that, without intervention, inequities will persist. Ending DEI does not create fairness; it maintains systemic disadvantages.
The True Solution: Ban Racism, Not DEI
If the administration were truly interested in eliminating bias in education, I would refocus on banning racism, not DEI. Racism and racist practices have historically shaped American education, from school segregation to curriculum bias. Addressing these realities is not an attack on any one group but a necessary step toward creating an accessible educational system.
A truly effective education policy would ensure that every child, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, or background, receives a quality education that is rooted in historical accuracy, not historical readjustment. This means embracing curricula that reflect the contributions of all groups, ensuring that students of color have equal access to advanced coursework and college pathways, and fostering an environment where diverse perspectives are welcomed.
What’s at Stake
When history is distorted or erased, it is the students who suffer. When faculty and staff are not equipped to serve diverse populations, learning environments suffer. When policies that promote inclusion and fairness are repealed, the future workforce suffers. This issue is not just about race, it is about the fundamental principles of education.
“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” – Winston Churchill
America cannot afford to move backward. If we are serious about the future of education, then we must reject efforts to silence history and instead champion policies that ensure all students have access to a learning environment that is equitable, inclusive, and grounded in facts and not fallacies. Only then can we fulfill the promise of education: to cultivate informed, critical thinkers who are prepared to be problem solvers in an ever-evolving society.
