D. E. I. policies face fierce debate as former leaders split over their impact.

The New York Times’ “Divided” video features four insiders: Bo Young Lee and Michael Yassa defend D. E. I.’s ideals, arguing for systemic fixes to bias, while Erec Smith and Desiree Fixler condemn it as discriminatory, citing identity-based quotas.

Trump’s anti-D. E. I. rhetoric clashes with Biden’s support, amplifying the ideological divide. Harvard’s alleged racial quotas and Fortune 500 companies’ gender gaps illustrate the tension between meritocracy and equity.

Critics like Fixler claim D. E. I. institutionalizes racism, while proponents like Lee stress data-driven analysis to address structural barriers. Protected classes—legally defined categories like race and gender—remain contentious, with Smith noting academia’s reluctance to address white men’s discrimination claims.

The discussion reveals D. E. I.’s evolution from civil rights principles to polarized public policy.