The Words and Demeanor of the Anti-DEI Carpetbagger: A Timeless Betrayal—and a Glimmer of Hope

"The greatest barriers to progress are not our differences, but the fear and ignorance that prevent us from seeing the beauty and strength in one another. Change is possible—when we choose courage over comfort, and curiosity over complacency." - Effenus Henderson

Let us call it for what it is: BS—a carefully constructed narrative designed to divide, manipulate, and control. It thrives on fear, ignorance, and insecurity, offering no solutions but demanding loyalty to a cause that isolates rather than unites. It echoes across history, born of the same greed and narrow-mindedness that seeks to suppress the unfamiliar, the different, the diverse.

At its core is a medieval mindset: one that clings to the familiar, mistrusts the new, and sees difference as a threat rather than an opportunity. The anti-DEI carpetbagger seeks neither truth nor progress but power—gained through the destruction of trust, the killing of hope, and the corrosion of community. They prey on those who feel displaced or diminished, exploiting their fears to sow division and mistrust. Their message is seductive: that inclusion weakens, that equity threatens, that diversity destabilizes. But their message is a lie.

Yet, as history has shown, even deeply ingrained prejudices are not immune to transformation. The story of Immanuel Kant offers a case in point. While Kant’s early writings reflect the racial biases of his time—hierarchical views of humanity that are deeply troubling—his later moral philosophy emphasizes the universal dignity of all people. His categorical imperative, which demands that we treat each individual as an end in themselves, not merely as a means, became a cornerstone of human rights and the fight against oppression. Kant’s intellectual journey reminds us that perspectives can evolve. It is a powerful lesson: even those who hold exclusionary or bigoted views today may find their minds and hearts changed through curiosity, education, and exposure to new ways of thinking.

Similarly, Albert Camus was not without his own struggles with bias. Though Camus was a staunch advocate of solidarity and human dignity, his writings on colonial Algeria reflect contradictions. While he opposed violent oppression, he hesitated to fully embrace the independence movement, reflecting a paternalistic attitude toward the colonized. This tension in Camus’s work reminds us that even those who champion universal principles can harbor blind spots rooted in their own cultural or historical context. But Camus’s broader philosophy—a call for solidarity and a rejection of alienation—remains an enduring guide for building bridges across difference.

These stories are not offered to excuse their failings but to highlight the potential for growth and change. They demonstrate that agility and adaptability are possible even for those whose views may initially seem rigid or entrenched. For the anti-DEI carpetbagger, this should be a challenge: to let go of the fear that fuels their rhetoric and embrace the humanity that diversity celebrates.

Hope lies in the recognition that narrow perspectives can widen. Those who reject DEI today might come to see that diversity is not a threat but a strength, that equity does not take away but expands opportunity, and that inclusion fosters trust and innovation. Transformation begins with curiosity—with the willingness to question assumptions and engage with difference. It grows through education and exposure, as we begin to see the humanity in those we once dismissed.

The challenge for those of us who champion DEI is to hold onto this hope while remaining resolute in our values. We must reject the divisive rhetoric of the anti-DEI movement, but we must also leave room for growth—for those individuals to question their own biases and perhaps join the fight for a more inclusive world.

Immanuel Kant and Albert Camus remind us that even the most celebrated thinkers were shaped by the biases of their time. Yet their legacies also show that ideas can evolve and that the pursuit of truth and justice can lead to profound transformation. Kant’s moral philosophy, despite its flawed beginnings, became a powerful argument for universal human dignity. Camus’s philosophy of solidarity, while imperfectly applied, remains a beacon for those seeking to bridge divides.

In this, there is a message for all of us: growth is possible. Change is within reach. For those who embrace DEI, it is a call to remain patient and persistent, to educate and engage, even with those who resist. For those who oppose it, it is an invitation to let go of fear and step into a larger vision of humanity.

Diversity is not a threat; it is a gift. Equity is not a disruption; it is a path to justice. Inclusion is not a weakness; it is the foundation of trust, resilience, and innovation. And even for those who oppose these truths today, there remains the possibility of transformation. The stories of Kant and Camus remind us: perspectives can change, and with them, the world.

Effenus Henderson