You’ve heard leaders arguing about “DEI” (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion). These are rules to make the military fair for everyone, especially Black people and others often treated unfairly. Now, those rules are being canceled—and it’s hurting Black Americans. Here’s why it matters.
What’s Going On?
The Army and other parts of the military just did something surprising: they stopped trying to hire people at a big event for Black engineers and scientists called the Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA). This event is where the military meets smart Black students and workers in fields like computers, math, and engineering—jobs the military needs to stay strong.
For years, the Army went to BEYA to find talented people. But now, they’re skipping it. People say this is because of orders from President Trump to stop DEI programs. This means the military is missing out on hiring skilled Black folks who could help fix things like hacking or building better technology.
Why Did DEI Help Black Americans?
DEI wasn’t just about being “nice.” It fixed real problems:
- Finding Good People: The military had trouble getting young Black Americans to join. DEI sent recruiters to schools and events like BEYA. That’s why Black soldiers in the Army went from 19% to 23% in five years.
- Stopping Unfairness: DEI taught bosses to give Black soldiers the same chances as others. It also let soldiers speak up if they were treated badly because of their race.
- A Fresh Start: Many Black Americans join the military to escape poverty, bad schools, or dangerous neighborhoods. The military gives them a regular paycheck, help paying for college, and job training they can’t always get where they live.
But now, ending DEI means:
- Fewer recruiters going to Black neighborhoods or events like BEYA.
- Black soldiers might not trust the military to treat them right.
- No one to stop bosses from being unfair or racist.
BEYA: Why Does It Matter?
Skipping BEYA isn’t just about missing a job fair. It’s a bad sign:
- Missing Out on Good People: BEYA is where future scientists and engineers meet. By not going, the military is ignoring smart Black folks who could help build better tech or stop hackers.
- Confusing Message: The military says it wants the “best people,” but ignoring BEYA makes it harder for Black talent to even get a chance.
- Going Backwards: Black Americans have fought in wars since before the U.S. was a country, but they’ve often been kept out of top jobs. DEI tried to fix that. Leaving BEYA feels like giving up on fairness.
Why Should You Care?
This isn’t just politics—it affects real people:
- For Families: Many Black Americans depend on the military for steady jobs and college money. If recruiters stop coming, those chances disappear.
- For Young People: Ending DEI takes away a way to escape poverty. Kids in rough neighborhoods might lose their only shot at a better life.
- For the Military: A team works best when everyone feels welcome. If Black soldiers feel ignored, the military gets weaker.
The Big Truth
DEI wasn’t perfect, but ending it hurts Black Americans in two ways:
- It shuts the door on folks who join the military to escape hard times.
- It ignores smart people at events like BEYA—people who could make the military better.
Without DEI, the military looks like it doesn’t care about Black soldiers—even though they’ve risked their lives for this country for over 200 years.
What do you think? Should the military only hire “the best,” or make sure everyone gets a fair chance? Tell us below.
Sources: Military news sites, NPR, government reports.
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