This Week on American Black Journal: 

Large corporations scaling back DEI efforts in the wake of backlash 

Four years after diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) was touted as a means of bringing about racial equality following the death of George Floyd, many large companies are now scaling back or abandoning DEI efforts. 

About 50% of C-suite executives surveyed in a January 2024 Littler report cited concerns about litigation as the highest contributing factor to the organization’s decrease in DEI efforts. Approximately 38% of executives surveyed said backlash toward corporate diversity programs has increased since the Supreme Court’s 2023 affirmative action ruling. 

So why is DEI under attack in the workplace? Host Stephen Henderson examines the controversy surrounding DEI in corporate America. He talks with Mark S. Lee, president & CEO of The LEE Group, about the current backlash against DEI, what’s driving it, and what recourse is available for African Americans and other minority groups in the workplace. Lee also shares why he believes DEI initiatives benefit a corporation’s bottom line.

 

African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County secures new home in Ann Arbor

The African American Cultural and Historical Museum of Washtenaw County (AACHM) is preparing to move into a new permanent home at 3261 Lohr Road in Ann Arbor with plans for a grand opening in November. 

The AACHM has served the community for more than three decades. Initially a “museum without walls” from 1993 to 2021, and most recently leased space at 1528 Pontiac Trail for three years, the museum preserves local African American history and culture, emphasizing its significance in strengthening community ties. 

Host Stephen Henderson sits down for a conversation with Dr. Debby Mitchell Covington, board chair of the African American Cultural & Historical Museum of Washtenaw County and Director of Strategic Partnerships and Equity Initiatives in the Office of Culture, Community and Equity at the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering. She reflects on why the museum was created in 1993 and explains what makes it unique. Plus, Covington also talks about the items on display at the museum, African American history in Washtenaw County, and how the new location was acquired.

Cost of housing ranks high for young voters ahead of 2024 election 

The American dream of owning a home — or even renting one — is turning into a nightmare. Home prices have jumped 47% since 2020 and half of all renters nationwide are cost-burdened — meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent, according to a 2024 Harvard University housing study. A recent report from the University of Michigan found the cost of housing is on voters’ minds.

About 50% of Detroit households prioritize some element of housing costs as an issue they want the government to address, said Mara Ostfeld, faculty lead of U-M’s Detroit Metro Area Communities Study. Affordable housing is one of the top concerns for young people. 

“We really saw this pop out among younger Detroiters, and this is consistent with national polls that younger Detroiters and younger Americans are far more concerned about the cost of housing,” Ostfeld said. “Especially as they’re entering into that phase of their life where they’re starting to pay their own rent or starting to put down payments on their own homes.” 

University of Michigan Associate Professor Roshanak Mehdipanah, the Director of Housing Solutions for Health Equity, said multiple factors make it difficult for younger people to buy their first homes, including rising housing costs, having enough money for a downpayment and higher interest rates. 

Voters are looking for candidates that have a plan to address their concerns, Ostfeld said.  

“If we want to see more young voters participate in the electoral process … we need to pay more attention to the issues that they’re saying are their top concerns, and housing is clearly high ranked among them,” she said. 

PBS News Hour Student Reporting Labs Gwen Ifill Legacy Fellow Maria Witcher talks with Ostfeld and Mehdipanah about housing concerns and how they could drive young voters to the polls.