The cycle of progress and backlash
By Precious Alannah Lockitt-Turner
Photo Courtesy of Adobe Stock AI
Throughout American history, every moment of Black progress has been met with swift and calculated backlash. The same systems that once legally upheld slavery, Jim Crow and segregation have not disappeared; they have evolved. These systems manifest in new ways today, including the coordinated attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
To understand why DEI is under attack, we must first acknowledge the historical reality: every advancement made by Black Americans toward economic, political and social equality has been met with deliberate efforts to dismantle that progress. This cycle is as old as America itself, and its consequences extend far beyond the Black community — hurting all disadvantaged groups.
From Reconstruction to Wilmington, North Carolina: The suppression of Black success
One of the most glaring examples of this cycle is the Wilmington Massacre of 1898 — a brutal coup that erased a thriving Black community in North Carolina. After reconstruction, Wilmington was a beacon of Black prosperity and political power.
By the late 1800s, Black professionals, entrepreneurs, and elected officials had built Wilmington into the most progressive city in North Carolina. The town had a thriving Black middle class, and Black leaders held key positions in government. Some of the most prominent figures included:
Alexander Manly – A newspaper editor and co-owner of The Daily Record, the only Black-owned daily newspaper in the country at the time. Manly fearlessly challenged racist narratives and advocated for racial justice. His editorial on racial hypocrisy in August 1898 was used as a pretext for the massacre.
Dr. James Francis Shober – Wilmington’s first Black physician, symbolizing the advancements Black professionals made in medicine and education.
Thomas C. Miller – A Black lawyer and educator who helped build institutions that empowered the Black community.
John C. Dancy – A prominent Republican politician, customs collector and advocate for Black political rights in Wilmington.
These men and many others represented Black excellence, self-sufficiency and leadership — for that, they were targeted.
That success threatened the white power structure, and in response, white supremacists, led by former Confederate soldiers and Democratic Party elites, launched a violent overthrow of Wilmington’s Black-led government, burned Black-owned businesses, and murdered untold numbers of Black residents. The goal was clear: to eliminate Black political and economic power.
This wasn’t an isolated event. It was part of a national pattern of disenfranchisement, redlining, and economic exclusion that continued well into the 20th century. Whenever Black Americans gained a foothold, the system shifted to push them back down.
The modern parallel: DEI under attack
Fast forward to today, and we see history repeating itself. DEI programs were designed to correct systemic inequalities by ensuring marginalized communities have access to education, jobs and leadership opportunities. These programs have been instrumental in breaking barriers that have long kept Black and other underrepresented groups out of key institutions.
Yet, much like the success of Black leaders in Wilmington over a century ago, DEI is now under attack. State legislatures, corporations and even universities are rolling back DEI initiatives under the guise of “anti-wokeness” and “merit-based” policies. This backlash isn’t about fairness — it’s about control. It’s about maintaining the same systems that have ensured that power remains in the hands of the few.
The irony: DEI critics often benefit from DEI
Ironically, many of the loudest voices against DEI directly benefit from its impact. How many politicians, corporate executives, and scholars decrying DEI got where they are because someone made a path for them through affirmative action, mentorship programs or inclusive hiring initiatives? How many of them come from families that benefited from government programs, GI bills or other policies that gave them access to opportunities denied to Black Americans?
The fight against DEI is not just about race — it’s about preserving privilege at the expense of marginalized communities. And when policies that uplift Black Americans and other disadvantaged groups are dismantled, everyone loses.
DEI and the Legacy of Wilmington: A Crossroads
The Wilmington Massacre of 1898 wasn’t just about destroying Black leadership — it was about sending a message: Black success will not be tolerated. Today, the attacks on DEI send the same message.
We are at a crossroads. Do we allow history to repeat itself, allowing backlash to erase hard-fought progress? Or do we stand firm, recognizing that the fight for equity is for a stronger, more inclusive society?
Just as Wilmington’s Black leaders once built a thriving community against all odds, DEI is not just a program but a movement for a more just future. And like every movement before it, it will take resilience to ensure that progress is not lost.
Now is the time to push forward, not backward. Because when Black success is suppressed, the entire nation suffers.