Anti-DEI efforts rooted in ‘white male Christian supremacy’: UC Berkeley professor

Posted For: Rotorblade

A panel at the University of California, Berkeley this week examined the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and the political pushback against them, with speakers discussing how debates over DEI are shaping higher education.

The discussion, titled “Building a Post-DEI Future,” focused on the growing criticism of DEI programs and the broader backlash against what critics describe as “wokeness,” according to a release from UC Berkeley’s College of Letters and Science.

African American Studies professor Nikki Jones argued that opposition to DEI efforts is tied to deeper ideological forces. She said the campaign against “woke” ideas reflects a broader belief system rooted in white male Christian dominance, and she warned that the debate carries major policy consequences.

Jones also described the impact that discussions of systemic inequality can have on students. She said many students are surprised when they first encounter scholarship about historical and structural oppression. Her goal, she explained, is for them to remember those lessons as they move into professional careers and make decisions that could influence whether those patterns continue.

Andrew Barkett, a UC Berkeley graduate in political economy who previously served as chief technology officer for the Republican National Committee, offered his own perspective on the political divide surrounding DEI. He said the issue has become symbolic of a larger cultural conflict.

According to Barkett, DEI has come to represent a movement that challenges the long-standing influence of white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants in American institutions. In his view, the current debate often overlooks people who fall somewhere between the most polarized positions.

He also argued that groups that feel their influence declining are reacting strongly and directing their frustration in ways that miss the broader issues at stake.

Barkett added that the central question should not be framed as a clash between white nationalism and progressive activism. Instead, he said the more important issue is whether the United States can continue striving to fulfill the principles outlined in the Constitution, and whether a new framework beyond DEI could help move the country closer to those ideals.

Sociology professor Cristina Mora said DEI initiatives helped spark necessary conversations on campuses, but she believes universities failed to provide sufficient resources to support the students those programs were meant to help.

Mora said many DEI officers lacked the funding and institutional backing needed to fully carry out their responsibilities. She suggested that university leaders should focus on expanding opportunities and access for students.

The panel also explored whether the rise of artificial intelligence could worsen existing inequalities. Mora raised concerns about how technology might affect students entering the workforce.

She questioned whether AI functions as a leveling tool or whether it could deepen disparities, depending on how familiar students are with it and whether they rely on it too heavily.

Mora concluded by saying she hopes to see a society that is more diverse, fair, and inclusive, and that leaders should work toward building that kind of future.

The conversation began with remarks from Berkeley Social Sciences Dean Raka Ray, who emphasized the role of the social sciences in examining complex social issues.

Ray said that at a time when open debate and disagreement have become more difficult, scholars still have a responsibility to analyze and question the forces shaping society. She also noted that striving for a better quality of life for everyone remains worthwhile, even when certain policies no longer receive widespread institutional support.

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