Debates over diversity, equity, and inclusion policies have exposed a schism in American society, further exposed by tragedy. Take, for instance, some of the responses conservatives shared about wildfires endangering Southern California. When Robby Starbuck, a far-right activist, suggested DEI is “deadly,” claiming it “made the damage of these fires worse,” Elon Musk, a wealthy South African business owner, who owns the platform cosigned that narrative, claiming that “DEI means people DIE.” These inflammatory comments blame pro-diversity efforts for the damage caused by these fires. Despite the severity of the problem, the fact that fires burned at least 20,000 acres and thousands of homes and caused officials to order the evacuation of 160,000, some are committed to politicizing this moment. They hope to portray DEI as a public threat rather than an effort to level the playing field. And they’re running with this narrative despite Los Angeles facing the “most destructive” fires in its history.
Scott Jennings, a political pundit and journalist, suggested on a CNN segment that diversity programs were implemented to prevent “too many White men” from being “firefighters.” Of course, this isn’t true. The vast majority of Los Angeles firefighters are White men, and no one is pressuring them to resign or telling future candidates they’re unfit for the job based on their race. The goal of diversity programs is to expand opportunities for Black people and other racial minorities who are, far too often, overlooked. Congresswoman Jasmine Crocket argued these programs are designed to “recognize that other people can be qualified.” To bring the message home, she described the irony of White people in the modern era doubting Black Americans’ abilities despite the nation’s historical reliance on slave labor. The quality of their craftsmanship was never questioned then. “It was my ancestors that built the White House,” Crockett declared. “If we are good enough to build the country… we are good enough to serve in other ways.” She added that Jennings and others should “stop acting like White men are the only ones capable.”
These bad-faith attacks blaming diversity programs for damages caused by the fires continued online. “So as it turns out, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion isn’t the best fire prevention or firefighting method after all,” Shawn Farash, a far-right influencer, shared online. However, this strawman argument misrepresents the purpose of these programs. DEI programs were designed to extend opportunities to marginalized groups unfairly deprived of opportunities, not elevate unqualified applicants, as conservatives frequently claim. Currently, only 3% of Los Angeles firefighters are Black, and they are required to pass the same training and meet the same department standards as White firefighters. How can Black people be in the minority and, at the same time, be singularly responsible for every perceived failure? No one is jeopardizing the lives of citizens because of diversity, though conservatives have heavily implied this. And yet, despite Southern California being engulfed in flames and a search and rescue mission underway, some blame diversity programs. It seems they wouldn’t be happy unless Black people were deprived of an opportunity to serve as a Los Angeles firefighter altogether if 3% representation is seen as a diversity policy taken to the extreme.
To the ire of conservatives, the Los Angeles Fire Department hired its first LGBTQ chief, Kristen Crowley, a White woman in 2022, and the same year, created a diversity, equity, and inclusion bureau. Some have wrongfully assumed that she is not qualified to lead, highlighting the role gendered bias plays in resistance to DEI. And the fact that Karen Bass, a Black woman, is currently mayor has inspired further conspiracies. Those who buy into the notion that DEI programs diminish the quality of professionals are more likely to feed into the narrative that unqualified minorities are responsible for the widespread damage caused by the fires. For instance, a conservative politician, Derrick Evans, suggested, “What’s happening in California would have happened to our entire country had Kamala Harris been elected as President.” Karen Bass and Kamala Harris differ significantly in their experience and leadership styles, but since they are both Black women, they are placed in the same basket. It’s racist to presume either are poor leaders without any evidence to justify this assessment.
To add insult to injury, 30% of the firefighters attempting to extinguish the flames engulfing the area are inmates. This is due to a loophole in the 13th Amendment, which permits involuntary servitude for those convicted of a crime. Given the shortage of available firefighters, California has relied upon the services of those behind bars. According to Doug Melville’s report in Forbes, many earn less than a dollar an hour and a maximum of $10.24 a day. There is a racial component to consider here as well. “Black men and women are 28% and 23% of the prisoners, while both make up just 6% of the state’s adults,” the Public Policy Institute of California revealed. Thus, any forced labor arrangement, such as requiring inmates to work as firefighters during an emergency, will disproportionately impact Black people, as well as Latino men, who are overrepresented in the state’s prison population. Despite the efforts of Black firefighters who are free or those incarcerated attempting to save lives and mitigate harm, some are blaming their presence for the widespread damage. Such a narrative overlooks their contribution and, instead of thanking them, blames them.
A grave injustice is underway in Southern California, as there is a shortage of firefighters and access to water to douse the flames. There are five fires in the Palisades, Eaton, Hurst, Kenneth, and Lidia areas. And while firefighters have made significant progress, there’s an ongoing effort to extinguish the flames. There is a humanitarian disaster because so many people have lost their homes, and many lack essential resources. And yet, despite the gravity of the situation, misinformation is spreading as quickly as the flames. For instance, some have claimed that Karen Bass, the mayor, defunded the fire department. This is misleading because the budget was published before the city finalized a new contract with the department, which would provide them with more money.
Others claimed that since Bass was on a diplomatic trip overseas, she was not concerned about the welfare of citizens. However, such a critique ignores that the mayor quickly returned after learning about the fires or that she remained in close contact with city officials on her way back. Another narrative blamed city officials for the water shortage, suggesting a lack of preparation jeopardized the safety of citizens. Megyn Kelly, a Fox News correspondent, claimed that “in recent years, LA’s fire chief has not made filling the fire hydrants top priority, but diversity.” These comments assume the tanks were not filled, and the department’s diversity program distracted the fire chief from these duties, both unsubstantiated claims.
As search and rescue efforts continue, conservatives continue to fan the flames of division rather than embracing a spirit of unity. Some are using this moment to blame Black people and other minorities for disasters well out of their control. Such a critique suggests that they make poor leaders and, thus, are undeserving of public trust. DEI has become a scapegoat for the California wildfires because framing these policies as dangerous helps to justify opposition to their implementation. This narrative attempts to conceal racist intent, masking such comments as concern over public safety. And yet, the assumption that Black people cannot perform the same functions in society as White people is exceedingly harmful. Such discourse may cause long-term damage to racial discourse in this country.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of Dr. Allison Gaines' work on Medium.