Texas Black Legislature Criticizes Abbott Office Memorandum on DEI

Recent memo from Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s office warning government agencies to stop diversity, equality and inclusiveness hiring initiatives, because they encourage discrimination, cause frustration and anger from the Texas Black Legislature.

“However, in this world of partisan, polarizing politics, we find people who want us to divide,” said Rep. Carl Sherman (D-DeSoto, District 109).

On Tuesday, the Texas Black Legislature held a press conference with Gary Bledsoe, president of the Texas NAACP; Charles O’Neill, President of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce; representatives of Lulak and other leaders after the memo from the governor’s chief of staff came out.

The memorandum was about diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI. Part of the letter states that “diversity, equity, and inclusiveness are being manipulated to promote policies that clearly favor some demographics at the expense of others,” and goes on to say that “when a government agency adjusts its recruitment practices based on other factors.” than merit, it is not following the law.”

The leaders said nothing illegal was done and are now calling on professional sports organizations and colleges to stay away from Texas when it comes to high-profile events.

“We believe that most Americans are good people and we believe our country is at its best when it treats all of its people fairly so that each of us has a stake in our success,” Bledsoe said.

“Diversity, equity and inclusiveness are actually about creating a wide range of employees from which an organization can hire employees. And we’ve been doing this for a long time in Texas. So it’s really hard to understand what it is, other than from an ideological and partisan point of view,” said Cal Gilson, professor of political science at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

Abbott spokeswoman Renée Eze responded to the memorandum with a statement:

“The letter from the Governor’s Chief of Staff is a reminder that state agencies and public universities must follow federal and state laws when hiring, including the Civil Rights Act, which protects diversity and inclusion. Both federal and state law make share quotas illegal. The problem is not diversity – the problem is that equality does not equal equality, and DEI hiring practices bring them together. In Texas, we empower people to advance through talent and merit. In pursuing the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we should not be judged by the color of our skin, but by the content of our character.”