Submitted by N.C. Black Caucus

One of the greatest strengths in North Carolina is our diversity. In this decade alone, North Carolina had been ranked as the No. 1 state for business for two years in a row, a testament to our diverse and talented workforce. For North Carolina to continue to compete on the world stage, we must have a prepared workforce that can collaborate with others who look differently from us and have different cultures and values than we do. 

As part of his campaign, President Trump promised to fight for our workforce and spur economic growth for all American communities. Just one month into his term, he has shattered all the promises he made to our workers and citizens. On Day 1 of his administration, Trump signed an executive order to dismantle all initiatives within the federal government that are geared toward ensuring that federal government is filled with the very best workers and representative of all Americans. 

In the name of an anti-DEI witch hunt, hundreds of jobs have already been lost in North Carolina; funding is in jeopardy in critical North Carolina industries like farming and research, which threaten thousands of more jobs. Now, inflation is back on the rise, and we are likely headed toward a recession. President Trump and Elon Musk have owned what they are doing, and they are proud of what they are doing. 

Now, there are people in the North Carolina General Assembly who want to follow in lockstep with President Trump and Elon Musk. In the name of an anti-DEI witch hunt, they too want to eliminate efforts to recruit the best to work in local and state governments and schools and universities. To them, it does not matter whether they’re telling the truth. To them, it does not matter whether jobs are lost, schools close down or families are ruined. It only matters that they follow their leader, President Trump. 

House Bill 171 is part of that witch hunt, and measures like this ignore the contributions of many communities that have long been overlooked. The programs that these measures seek to destroy include programs that uplift students and workers in Appalachia and other rural parts of North Carolina, along with other marginalized groups. Embracing a broad spectrum of voices — from urban centers to the farthest reaches of our rural communities — is not just a moral imperative. It is a strategic necessity in order to lift every North Carolinian. 

The truth is that we would not be North Carolina without our diversity. We are home to the second highest number of historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), which have each enjoyed bipartisan support, since their inception. These institutions have produced leading engineers, entrepreneurs, scientists, researchers, lawyers and more in the workforce of North Carolina and America. We have governors and CEOs who are proud products of our HBCUs. 

The North Carolina Legislative Black Caucus has always been driven by the principles of equality and fairness. Our caucus remains committed to lowering costs and creating greater economic opportunities for all. We welcome the efforts of anyone who truly cares about uplifting those principles. But we will not tolerate any efforts that use those principles under false pretenses, while eliminating jobs and opportunities for North Carolinians.