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Earl Ofari Hutchinson
[00:00:00.01] – Speaker 1
This is Earl Ofari Hutchinson. Back again, another edition of the Hutchinson Report. Dei. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. A dirty word to those on the far right. At the top of the far right, list, at least on this issue, a President-elect, Donald Trump. Two things that he made a cornerstone of his campaign. Actually, three. Immigration, mass deportation, the greatest in American history. Secondly, and that got the juices going of the mega nation. Secondly, we’re going to end DEI. We’re going to end it at colleges, universities, and most importantly, job sites, anything, any contractor that deals with the federal government. I’m going to get a penny out of us. You’re not going to get a nickel out of us if, in fact, you have any component for DEI in your hiring, promotion, elevation, workforce, anything. What is the logic behind the attack and assault on DEI? It’s nothing new. Going back in time into the ’70s, the first major attack against trying to balance. By that, I mean racially balance, by that I mean, racially balanced, ethnically gender balance, same-sex preference balance, a workforce. In other words, a workforce, or in colleges and universities, a student force should reflect the general population After all, all of us do pay taxes, more or less, one form or another.
[00:01:50.01] – Speaker 1
So inclusion, diversity, and equity. Back then, there was affirmative action, the assault on that. You have numerous court cases, challenges, lawsuits, and eventually many states, and of course, the Supreme Court, eventually knocked it out. Always, the specter of quotas, not only quotas, but also a requirement that you have X number of African-Americans, X number of Hispan, X number of women, X number of LGBTQ+, X number of Native Americans, X number of Asian-Americans, Americans on your job site, in your Corporation, in your business, or on your campus. The right went ballistic and said, No, no, no, no, no, Discriminating against Whites. In other words, it’s anti-white discrimination. What about Dr. King? Not the color of your skin, but the content of your character. I like the way they bring him out every time to serve their purposes. Totally misquoting Totally misinterpreting Dr. King. However, it’s back in the news again, not just because of Trump and the rights continuing drumbeat attack on diversity, equity, and inclusion, but now, Costco to their everlasting credits said, We’re going to buck the tide. We’re not going to be like Walmart and some of the other corporations, Toyota now, that essentially said, We’re backing away from DEI, knocking it out of our programs, and of course, are certainly the emphasis within the company.
[00:03:32.27] – Speaker 1
Costco said, no, DEI is important. One, we must have a reflective in our workforce, a workforce that’s reflective of the population across the board, race, ethnic, gender, and same sex, all of that. Secondly, our clientele. They’re diverse, so the workforce has to be and reflect that. Thirdly, it’s the right thing to do because we are In fact, as Costco, a service in the sense of providing the service to the community through purchasing sales, items, goods, retail, and so forth. So therefore, it’s important that there be diversity in our workforce because we appeal in our client base, our customer base. They’re diverse. They’re bringing tens of millions of dollars in revenue to the company. And it would look a little peculiar not to have within Costco and other corporations could take the cue from that or should, a workforce that looks like you, i. E. Those that shop here. Also, going right up to the top, number five. In other words, corporate management should be diverse to blacks, Hispanic, Native Americans, Asian Americans, women, LGBTQ, across the board. In other words, it should be reflective, top to bottom. All right, so we say this on the Hutchinson Report today.
[00:04:58.06] – Speaker 1
Fight, fight, fight. Keep, keep, keep. Maintain, maintain, maintain. Beat back, beat back, beat back. The far rights assault on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Dei. It must remain. It’s a fight worth fighting for, and it’s one that can be won. Costa has already shown that. Thanks again. Another edition, watching and listening of the Hutchinson Report.