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DEI, the initialism for diversity, equity, and inclusion, is on the minds of educators and lawmakers nationwide and throughout much of the Western world. This book will help readers develop knowledge of the history of DEI in education in order to better understand the current debates and counter the opposition with informed, strategic actions. Since their inception, schools in the United States have been unjust, meaning that they have privileged the identities, experiences, and perspectives of certain social groups, namely those who hold Anglo-American identity. DEI can be traced to the activism of justice workers, especially during the civil rights movements of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, which led to increased access, opportunities, and representation. These gains, however, have always been precarious, with opponents determined to maintain white superiority in schooling. Consequently, schools have become more diverse, but they are far from equitable and inclusive- far from just. Threats to the movement for educational justice intensified in the United States in 2020 amidst what has been called a time of "racial reckoning." Under the guise of resistance to Critical Race Theory (CRT), lawmakers across the country began passing laws that restricted classroom instruction related to race, gender, and sexuality. Around the same time, legislation around book bans limited students'' access to children''s books that feature diverse characters and center on LGBTQ+ topics. Similarly, Florida, known for its 2022 Stop WOKE Law, rejected the long-anticipated AP African American Studies course in 2023, claiming it lacks educational value. In 2024, opposition to educational justice was repackaged under a new label- anti-DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion). Just as had happened four years prior in PK-12 education, states passed laws that denied the impact of racism, sexism, and heterosexism. In essence, anti-DEI laws required institutions of higher education to close their DEI offices, forced them to stop requiring diversity statements, and more. These mandates came on the heels of the Supreme Court''s reversal of affirmative action, which ended race-based college admissions. These bans, reversals, restrictions, rejections, and eliminations in education will undoubtedly further disenfranchise marginalized students, their families, and communities and will strengthen white supremacy in schools. Opposition to educational justice will become even more fervent over the next four years under the Trump administration. As an example, he promises to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education, a federal agency that houses the Office for Civil Rights, an entity that enforces federal civil rights laws in schools. ...
