February 1st 2025.
On January 31, Texas Governor Greg Abbott made headlines by issuing an executive order that some are calling a mirror of former President Donald Trump's policies. The order directed state agencies, including the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Education Agency, to adopt a "colorblind" approach and eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. According to reports from The Dallas Morning News, the order specifically instructed these agencies to treat all individuals equally, regardless of race, in their rules, policies, and actions.
However, Abbott's order also took a strong stance against DEI, critical race theory, and affirmative action, labeling them as "blatant efforts to divide people" and "new forms of racism." The order went as far as to condemn the concepts of inherent bias and cultural appropriation as racist and contradictory to the fundamental belief that "all men are created equal," as stated in the Declaration of Independence. To further clarify his intentions, Abbott released a press statement explaining that his order was necessary to prevent divisive policies and promote unity, a common tactic used by right-wing politicians.
Abbott firmly stated, "DEI agendas only serve to divide us, rather than unite us, and have no place in the state of Texas. These radical policies deviate from constitutional principles and deny diverse thought." He continued by emphasizing his belief that DEI only serves to divide the people of Texas and that it is essential to reject race-based favoritism and discrimination in favor of merit-based advancement.
However, not everyone was in agreement with Abbott's order. Gilbert Hinojosa, the chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, released a statement expressing his disappointment and concern for the exclusion of DEI protections for marginalized communities in Texas. Hinojosa stated, "In a state as diverse as Texas, it is a massive disservice to our workforce to exclude DEI protections that employ veterans, people with disabilities, women, Black and Brown Texans, and individuals from all walks of life." He went on to accuse Abbott of playing political games and prioritizing his ideology over providing opportunities for families to earn a living.
This executive order is just the latest in Abbott's ongoing crusade against DEI. Earlier this year, The Texas Tribune reported that Abbott threatened to remove Texas A&M University President Mark Welsh III from his position after conservative activist Christopher Rufo shared an email inviting Black, Latinx, and Indigenous staff and Ph.D. students to attend a conference for these groups. On social media, Abbott publicly denounced the conference as unconstitutional and threatened to remove Welsh from his position if the issue was not resolved.
Additionally, Abbott's threats to withhold funding from K-12 schools that promote DEI have faced pushback from equity leaders, such as Rashi Jawade, the CEO of Texas-based nonprofit Embracing Equity. In an interview with KSAT, Jawade expressed concerns that Abbott's focus on dismantling DEI would only worsen the disparity between Black and other teachers of color and the student body composition. She stated, "In the country, 53% of students are students of color. And yet, 82% of the teaching workforce is white. And that number is exacerbated in Texas, where 73% of students are students of color. And yet, 40% of our schools across the country do not have even a single teacher of color."
As Abbott's executive order continues to spark debates and criticism, it remains to be seen how this will impact the diverse communities in Texas and the state's efforts towards promoting equity and inclusion.
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