Black Execs on DEI Backlash: ‘We Have to Defend Our Jobs’

It’s been a little over a year since President Trump’s executive order aimed at dialing back Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives on a federal level. This rollback has rippled through the business and educational sectors, prompting many corporations to seemingly align with the narrative that “DEI is evil,” despite these initiatives having provided crucial opportunities for Black people, women, and other disadvantaged communities.

Defending Contributions Amidst Backlash

Prominent Black business executives are sharing their perspectives on the current climate, with many expressing frustration at having to constantly defend their achievements. Ursula Burns, founding partner of Integrum and chairwoman of Teneo, articulated this sentiment: “One of the most frustrating things is that we actually give validity to these small minds, that we have to defend the fact that we are doing a good job like everybody else who is afforded the fundamentals: good education, reasonable health care, reasonable food, safe places to live.”

Burns highlighted that throughout her life, she benefited from programs designed to rectify historical disadvantages. She firmly stated, “I don’t apologize for that at all. We keep having the same discussion and arguing the same argument—which is, we’re talented individuals; we happen to have a skin color or a gender that’s different than the standard [in US leadership].”

The Narrative Shift and Its Consequences

Jacob Walthour Jr., CEO of Blueprint Capital Advisors, feels that the narrative surrounding DEI has been “stolen.” He points to the backlash against nonprofits like the Fearless Fund, which provides grants for Black women business owners, and Target’s scaling back of its diversity initiatives after facing criticism. Walthour noted that these periods of backlash and retribution, reminiscent of post-slavery eras or Jim Crow, are recurring challenges.

Despite these setbacks, Walthour also highlighted the continued progress within the Black community. “You’ve got more Black senators than ever before. You’ve got more Black legislators in the House of Representatives than ever before. In my industry, you’ve got more Black people running venture capital funds, private equity funds, private credit funds than ever before,” he stated. This raises the question: “Do we believe the narrative they’re telling, or should we figure out how to keep our narrative alive and well—and defend it and make sure it’s continually amplified so our children know what the possibilities are for their lives and their careers?”

Black Women Entrepreneurs Leading the Way

Even with increased unemployment rates compared to men, white women, or Latina workers, Black women are taking charge of their entrepreneurial futures. A Wells Fargo report indicates that Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, with a 13% increase in businesses and a roughly 6% rise in revenue streams between 2024 and 2025.

Lisa Wardell, a board director at American Express, Covista, and Univar Solutions, emphasized the data-driven benefits of diversity. “One of the benefits of the last few years is that we now have data. We know this is not a charitable endeavor to create diversity. We know 87% of teams make better choices if they’re diverse,” she said. “Our job is to remind people. This is a data-driven assignment now for corporate America and, frankly, for the federal government too.”