Former President Donald Trump's actions against the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives go beyond simply removing Biden-era policies. He's aiming to rectify what he sees as a perversion of the Civil Rights Movement's core tenets, essentially combating the radical ideologies of the 1960s.

Trump's executive orders have effectively banned DEI practices across the federal government, impacting contractors and grantees, and he's expressed a desire to see similar changes in the private sector. His rationale extends beyond a mere dislike of preferential treatment. He views DEI as a dangerous attempt to reshape American thought, fostering self-hatred and replacing individual rights with collectivism and central planning – a philosophy some label as Marxist.

One of DEI's primary tools was workplace training sessions focused on identifying "subconscious bias," "privilege," and "microaggressions." These concepts, now widely recognized, became instruments for promoting a specific worldview. Further reinforcing this ideology were materials that categorized traits like literacy, punctuality, and logical thinking as "Whiteness," alongside the denigration of historical figures like Washington, Jefferson, and Frederick Douglass.

President Biden amplified these practices through Executive Order 13985, mandating DEI prioritization across government agencies. Trump countered this with his own day-one executive order, initiating the dismantling of DEI. A subsequent order rescinded previous executive actions related to affirmative action, including one by Lyndon B. Johnson (EO 11246) that tied federal contracts to workforce demographics, effectively introducing racial quotas.

This action by Johnson marked a shift from the original intent of affirmative action, as expressed by John F. Kennedy, which emphasized color-blindness in employment. Johnson's Howard University speech signaled this change, arguing that simply providing equal opportunity wasn't enough, thus paving the way for race-based preferences. Trump's reversal of EO 11246 represents an attempt to restore the initial meaning of affirmative action.

The 1960s also saw the rise of critical race theory, which posits that America is inherently racist and founded on white supremacy. These ideas, now central to DEI, are seen by some as historically inaccurate. The influence of 1960s radicals on groups like Black Lives Matter further underscores the connection between these historical trends and contemporary DEI initiatives. The 2020 BLM protests and subsequent unrest are believed to have fueled Biden's push for DEI, solidifying these concepts in the public consciousness. Trump's efforts, therefore, aim to address not only DEI but also the underlying ideologies he believes stem from the 1960s.