DEI Is Under Attack—And They’re Not Even Subtle Anymore

A Rigged Roller Rink

Picture this: life’s a roller rink. Imagine they hand us a pair of rentals when we’re born because no one’s here forever. Some people get a fresh, brand-new pair straight from the ugly brown skate store—well-adjusted, wheels a shiny-matte orange, and not a wobble in sight. They’re zipping around the rink like they own the place before the music even starts.

Then there’s the rest of us. We get that hand-me-down pair where something’s off. You don’t know what, you don’t know where, and you sure as hell don’t know how to fix it. But it’s fine, right? They look sturdy enough to take a beating, so you just have to move your legs twice as hard to go half the distance. And don’t even think about asking for a new pair.

“Just learn how to use what you’ve got,” they say.
“Oh, you need a tool to fix them? Sure, there are tools—but you’ve got to figure out which one you need, find where it’s hidden, and figure out how to use it.”
“Don’t worry, though. Once you do all that, I’m sure you’ll catch up to everyone else on the floor. Just keep trying.”

The Hypocrisy of ‘Merit’

And here’s where the hypocrisy hits hard. They love to talk about “merit” as if it exists in a vacuum. As if the kid gliding effortlessly around the rink on brand-new skates worked harder or wanted it more than the one crashing into the wall because their wheel keeps falling off.

But that’s the lie they sell us: that the world is fair, that success is purely about effort, and that those who struggle just aren’t trying hard enough. The truth is, the game has always been rigged. DEI didn’t rig the game—it exposed it. And that’s why they’re trying to kill it.

Why This Fight Matters Now

Rolling back DEI doesn’t just preserve inequality—it reinforces it. It sends a message to every marginalized person that they’ll always be skating uphill, that their struggles aren’t real, and that their successes don’t matter unless they can achieve them without any support.

It tells the neurodivergent worker that accommodations are “too much effort.” It tells the single mother that flexible hours are “unfair” to her colleagues. It tells the Black and Brown employees that they should just “fit in” instead of expecting the workplace to value their perspectives.

And it’s all bullshit.

The irony that the people attacking DEI are the same ones who benefited most from systems of privilege. The ones who never had to worry about a wobbly wheel. The ones who got roller blades before everyone else…you know the ones. I hated those guys. 

What Happens When the Rink Stays Rigged

Without DEI, we’re back to pretending that the rink is level when it’s not. And that’s not just bad for the skaters with the broken wheels—it’s bad for everyone. Because the skaters who had to fight to stay on their feet are often the ones who bring the most creativity, resilience, and innovation to the rink.

By dismantling DEI, we’re not just shutting the door on fairness; we’re shutting the door on possibility. We’re telling people that unless they fit the mold, unless they’re already gliding smoothly, their contributions aren’t valued.

Flipping the Script

So no, I’m not here to skate quietly while they tear down the progress we’ve fought for, that my parents have fought for. And I’ll be damned if they leave this world feeling like it was all for nothing. I’m not here to cheer for a system that pretends merit is a fair game while actively rigging it against the rest of us. And I’m certainly not here to accept that “resilience” is a badge of honor when it’s really just a symptom of systemic neglect.

This year, I’m not interested in skating harder just to prove I can. I’m interested in fixing the rink so everyone gets a fair shot. If that makes some folks uncomfortable, good. Maybe it’s time they felt a wobble or two.

H1B Hypocrisy: America’s Double Standard

Let’s talk about the H1B visa debate—the latest act in America’s ongoing play of hypocrisy theater. We’re told immigrants come here for opportunity, that they bring the “best and brightest.” But let’s be real: when corporations hire them, it’s not about brilliance—it’s about cheaper labor. These workers are praised for grinding harder, longer, and for less, while neurodivergent talent, Black and Brown talent, and anyone who doesn’t fit the corporate mold is cast aside. Why? Because we don’t come cheap. We don’t settle for crumbs.

The Two-Faced Narrative Here’s where it gets maddening. You can’t cry about immigrants “stealing jobs” while simultaneously handing out visas to outsource labor you claim Americans won’t or can’t do. That’s not just a contradiction—it’s a slap in the face to every worker here who’s been fighting for a seat at the table, only to be told they’re not good enough for a chair they built.

And miss me the “they’re smarter” argument. America has plenty of qualified graduates entering the workforce every year. The issue isn’t intelligence—it’s investment. Companies don’t want to pay for experience, skill, or even potential anymore. They want someone they can underpay, overwork, and replace without a second thought. But you know what? That sounds like a them problem. You made this bed…lay in it.

Built on the Backs of Others

Let’s be clear: this country wasn’t built by the Trumps of history. It wasn’t built by the people in the boardrooms or the ones slapping their names on buildings. It was built by immigrants, enslaved people, Indigenous communities, and neurodivergent minds who refused to conform. The people who laid the foundation for this so-called “greatness” didn’t just work hard—they endured. And now, those same communities are being ignored, dismissed, and gaslit into thinking they’re the problem.

Generational Fallout

Oh, and to Gen X: congrats on raising a generation of participation trophy recipients who can’t handle a TikTok longer than 60 seconds unless it’s ASMR. Maybe if we hadn’t shoved screens in their faces to cope with our own burnout, we wouldn’t have a workforce where the mere concept of effort sends people into existential spirals. I didn’t have kids for this exact reason—I knew my karmic spawn would be the final boss of chaos.

Popcorn for the Chaos

But hey, I get it. It’s hard out there for a pimp. We’re all just trying to make it. What’s wild, though, is the very people who wanted to “make it hard” for everyone else are finally feeling the pinch themselves. And to that, I say: let me grab a front-row seat and some popcorn, because this shitshow is about to hit Target clearance sale levels of messy.

The Cost of Conformity: The Wizard of Oz Was the Original Scam

Now imagine those same wobbly, hand-me-down skates leaving the rink and hitting the so-called “yellow brick road.” You’ve already had to work twice as hard to get halfway around the rink, and now you’re being told this is the path to your future. They point you toward it, claiming it leads to happiness and success, but here’s the kicker: when you ask them if that’s how they got there, they’ll smirk and say their journey was harder, and you should just be grateful you even have a road to walk.

But they don’t tell you that they’ll keep changing the directions. They don’t tell you that unless you start questioning where you’re going, you’re no longer in charge of your destiny. They don’t tell you that this isn’t the way to freedom—it’s the way to keep you under control.

And this isn’t new. Here’s where The Wizard of Oz comes in.

• No Brain

  Society doesn’t want us to think for ourselves—they need us to follow the yellow brick road. The message is clear: don’t ask questions. Don’t stray. Just keep marching toward their promised land. But that “promised land”? It’s a sham. Just like the Great and Powerful Oz, they’re hiding behind smoke and mirrors, hoping we never realize that we already have what we need.

• No Courage

  The Scarecrow wasn’t stupid. The Lion wasn’t cowardly. But in a world where fear keeps us in check, we’re taught not to think, not to question, not to stand out. Courage becomes a liability when the goal is conformity. And if we dare to step off the yellow brick road? We’re cast as rebels, outliers, or failures. But here’s the thing: the ones who “went off course” have always been the ones who made real change.

• No Heart

  The Tin Man wasn’t heartless—he was overworked. Constantly grinding, rusting at the joints, barely able to function without a little oil. Sound familiar? It’s the story of every worker who’s been told to “sacrifice for the greater good” while being robbed of time with their family, their passions, their life. They don’t want you to have a heart because hearts get in the way of their profit margins. A heart makes you stop and ask: Is this worth it? Is this fair?

   

Let’s Call It What It Is

This isn’t about progress; it’s about control. They’ve been running this scam for centuries—convincing us that following their path will lead to freedom. But the truth? Their path is just a loop. It keeps us chasing an illusion while they profit off our talents, labor, and creativity. And when we burn out, they replace us with someone else eager to follow the same road.

2025: Cut the Bullshit, Burn the Road

It’s time to stop pretending their rules make sense. Stop pretending their systems are fair. Stop believing their lies about what we need to “deserve” recognition, opportunity, and rest.

This year, we’re not following their road. We’re building our own—and we’re doing it with the brains, courage, and hearts they tried to convince us we didn’t have. Because here’s the secret they never wanted us to figure out:

Flip the Table—Stop Asking for a Seat

Here’s the thing about the yellow brick road they want us to follow: it was never going to lead us to freedom. And those seats at their table? They were built for show, not for inclusion.

• To the leaders slashing DEI budgets and calling accommodations “unnecessary”: You’re not streamlining—you’re silencing.

• To the corporations exploiting H1B visas to cut costs while ignoring the diverse talent already here: You’re not innovating—you’re undermining.

• To every boss, boardroom, and billionaire who’s convinced themselves that equity is the enemy: You’re not leading—you’re clinging to power that’s slipping through your fingers.

We see through the game. We know the goal isn’t progress—it’s preservation. Preservation of systems that exploit, exclude, and erase us. And let’s be clear: we’re done playing by your rules.

For the rest of us—Black, Brown, neurodivergent, disabled, queer, immigrant, or any combination thereof—2025 isn’t the year we ask for a seat at your table. It’s the year we flip the table. If the system wasn’t built for us, so be it. We’ll build something better—something that works for all of us, not just the few who’ve been skating by.

Closing: A New Year, But Not a New Fight