Opinion: Preserve and Enhance DEI in Amherst

Diversity, equity and inclusion are bedrocks of American democracy but not, sadly, of American history.  American democracy has never seemed as fragile in American history as it has this week.  I am not going to pile up adjectives or epithets to express my dismay with this administration and this president. In a way he did us a favor this week by dropping his mask and blatantly proclaiming his racism.  He did it at the beginning of the week by freezing federal funds in order to determine which recipients were advancing WOKE policies, and while his freeze has been temporarily suspended, it was neither banned nor declared unconstitutional.

Yesterday, in response to the terrible accident over the Potomac, he blamed the accident on DEI.  He is no longer pretending. He has become a spokesman for what he perceives as white America.

I assume that virtually all Amherst residents are appalled at this. But just in case it is not clear, WOKE is a derogatory term aimed at individuals, policies, and organizations whose slow and arduous work continues to remediate five centuries of racism, enslavement, segregation and oppression.  Departments of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (and we should spell out this title rather than abbreviate it) are dedicated to this work, and the vicious words, practices and character of this administration underscore their necessity.

Amherst has recently taken a clear and courageous position to reinforce its commitments as a sanctuary city. I assume that Town Hall and the Police Department are developing plans and procedures to follow if and when federal agents, whether ICE or otherwise, challenge those commitments and seek to apprehend immigrants, including children.  Right now this is more likely than not to happen.

I hope that the town will be equally clear in supporting and enhancing its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.  This may involve real pain, if the federal government is unchecked in its desire to impose an ideological test for receiving federal funds.  Our budgets and our lives and circumstances will be deeply affected.  We must be unequivocal and prepared to suffer the consequences.  We must set an example to embolden federal courts and state governments. 

I began this letter by claiming that diversity,equity and inclusion are bedrocks of American democracy.  So are courage and compassion.  This week in American history is calling for all of them.

Michael Greenebaum was Principal of Mark’s Meadow School from 1970 to 1991, and from 1974 taught Organization Studies in the Higher Education Center at the UMass School of Education.  He served in Town Meeting from 1992, was on the first Charter Commission in 1993, and served on several town committees including the Town Commercial Relations Committee and the Long Range Planning Committee.