RCDC Roots and Wings Session I: Flexing your (academic) Freedom: Preparing Early Career Scholars to flourish in an anti-DEI Environment

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are buzzwords that have been particularly pronounced since the highly publicized murders of unarmed Black men and women in 2020. Our nation has long been athirst for changes that protect human rights. George Floyd’s murder was the tipping point. The world witnessed the callousness of entrenched racism, prompting widespread calls for justice. Massive uprisings escalated to unprecedented global protests that quickly translated into transformation in the academy. Importantly, the origins of higher education are steeped in systemic exclusionary practices. Enduring inequities have resulted in lower educational attainment among Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), ultimately resulting in fewer BIPOC educators and researchers. Long-standing policies such as Affirmative Action as well as the creation of DEI offices and research initiatives were implemented to ameliorate some of these issues. Recent coordinated attacks have decentered DEI consideration. These assaults are not new; however, legislation has codified states’ freedom to ban DEI effectively. With more than 85 anti-DEI bills introduced across 28 states, state-supported institutions are caught in the crossfire. This leaves scholars whose research centers on the voices and needs of the BIPOC community at odds with the very universities that recruited and pledged to support them. Where does this upheaval leave social work as we engage in critical work and praxis to improve the overall wellbeing of oppressed groups experiencing some of society’s most pressing social problems?

This cross-cutting panel discussion delves into social work scholars’ experiences and their insights into how they are navigating spaces to resist prevailing anti-DEI sentiments while advocating for communities and maintaining academic productivity.