Baltimore Mayor Defies Trump's DEI Criticisms With 'Definitely Earned It'

President Trump's criticism of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, which he claims are contributing to government failures, has led to a scaling back of diversity observances by military, government agencies, and some private firms, affecting events like Black History Month celebrations in February. In response, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is challenging these critiques, especially after facing racist attacks labeling him a "DEI mayor" following a bridge collapse near the city that resulted in six fatalities.

Scott views these attacks as part of a broader backlash against historically marginalized groups in leadership. He drew parallels between his experience and Trump's recent comments blaming diversity hiring for a crash at Reagan National Airport. Despite the incident being under investigation, Trump insisted DEI was to blame due to "common sense."

Scott, in an interview with the Associated Press, emphasized the need to refute misconceptions about DEI and to highlight its alignment with American values through Black History Month. He has started his own DEI campaign, but his stands for "Definitely Earned It"; it aims to showcase individuals' significant contributions to Black history, underscoring that achievements were earned amidst systemic challenges. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)