How About Our Civil Rights? Who Do They Benefit?

 Nadene Goldfoot   

                                                               

Trump Says DEI, Civil Rights Policies Hurt White People. Do they?

President Donald Trump’s approach to civil rights legislation, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act, centers on rolling back policies designed to remedy systemic racism, which his administration contends constitutes "reverse discrimination". 

Judaism teaches respect for the fundamental rights of others as each person's duty to God. "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor" (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 31a). Equality in the Jewish tradition is based on the concept that all of God's children are "created in the image of God" (Genesis 1:27). From that flows the biblical injunction, "You shall have one law for the stranger and the citizen alike: for I, Adonai, am your God" (Leviticus 24:22).

In the United States, Jewish people are protected from discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars discrimination based on race, color, religion, and national origin. Furthermore, federal courts have ruled that Jewish people are protected against racial discrimination in employment under these statutes, as Judaism constitutes a distinct ethnic and protected group.

Employment Discrimination: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act makes it unlawful for employers to discriminate against Jewish employees regarding hiring, compensation, or terms of employment. Employers are also required to provide reasonable religious accommodations (such as time off for the High Holy Days) unless it causes undue hardship. 

Hate Crimes: The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act provides federal jurisdiction to prosecute crimes committed against individuals because of their perceived religion or race.

Housing and Public Accommodations: The Fair Housing Act and Title II of the Civil Rights Act prohibit discrimination based on religion or race in housing, real estate transactions, and public spaces such as hotels, restaurants, and theaters.

Specific actions and legal challenges have reshaped the enforcement of these historic protections: 

                                 MEDDDLING

• Executive Actions on DEI: Trump has actively sought to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across federal agencies, contractors, and universities, arguing that modern equality programs violate longstanding civil rights statutes. 
• Challenging the Materiality Provision: The administration has moved to dismiss voting rights lawsuits that invoked the Civil Rights Act of 1964, specifically targeting provisions that prevent states from rejecting voter registrations based on minor, inconsequential omissions. 
• Federal Voting Restrictions: Trump issued executive orders to create a restricted federal voter list, limiting mail-in voting and imposing new requirements on registered voters. Civil rights organizations contend these restrictions violate equal protection guarantees. 
• Disparate Impact Reversal: The administration has targeted long-standing interpretations of the Civil Rights Act by de-prioritizing enforcement based on "disparate impact"—a legal theory utilized to combat policies that unintentionally discriminate against minority populations.
• Black People: Are protected primarily under the Race and Color categories of federal civil rights law.
• Upgrade:  Jewish People: Are protected as a religious group under the Religion category, and are also protected under the Race/Ethnicity category. U.S. courts have ruled that because Jewish people share historical, ancestral, and ethnic characteristics, they are protected against racial and ethnic discrimination (e.g., under Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866).
• The two groups have a deep history of interwoven civil rights struggles. Historically, Jewish activists and organizations played a significant role in helping found and fund the NAACP, and they had a prominent presence in the marches of the 1960s.
• While both groups rely on the same overarching civil rights framework to fight discrimination, the specific enforcement—such as arguing racial bias versus religious bias—depends on the nature of the incident.
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• Vote wisely this time, as Whoopi Goldberg advises.  "This is on us": She regularly uses this phrase to emphasize that the state of the country and the choice of leaders falls directly on the shoulders of the voters. The Problem With Whoopi  is Constant : This is on us refrain. 
• Updated:  2:55pm, 6/21/26

Blacks Bewail Gains Made in USA By Trump

 Nadene Goldfoot                                      

After crying to my friend about Trump's "Deal, "  he immediately brought to my attention that Blacks are crying, too, over their dealings with Trump's management.  .   

Trump has faced persistent accusations of utilizing divisive racial rhetoric. Critics often point to his initial rise to public prominence via a 1973 Department of Justice housing discrimination lawsuit as part of a long historical pattern of bias. Activists and civil rights organizations frequently condemn his administration's efforts to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and to restrict curricula focused on systemic racism.

"President Donald J. Trump’s administration has dismantled federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, restricted the enforcement of the "disparate-impact" civil rights standard across housing and employment, and ordered federal cultural institutions to adjust historical exhibits. 

The administration views these actions as necessary moves to restore equal opportunity and meritocracy.  "Where had it gone and by who????"   Conversely, critics argue these policies reverse 60 years of civil rights gains". How can such an event be seen with two completely different views!!!The orders encompass everything from migration to TikTok to climate change and could have major implications for our communities.

DEI has faced major political and legal shifts. At the federal level, executive orders have restricted or phased out many government-affiliated diversity initiatives, leadership programs that factor in race, and agency funding. 

Private sector approaches are also evolving, with many corporations shifting focus from explicit DEI initiatives to broader "talent and opportunity" or merit-based frameworks.

Trump's "Improvement" intends to promote fair treatment, equal opportunity, and representation for historically marginalized groups. These initiatives generally focus on diversifying personnel, ensuring fair policies, and fostering a workplace culture of belonging. 

Core Concepts

• Diversity: Ensures a workforce, student body, or organization represents a wide array of backgrounds, including race, gender, age, physical ability, and socioeconomic status.
• Equity: Focuses on impartiality and fairness by identifying and removing systemic barriers that may disadvantage specific groups.
• Inclusion: Cultivates a welcoming culture where all individuals feel valued, respected, and empowered to contribute.  
• It all sounds good, but it is loose enough to backfire so that many Blacks feel marginized once again. 

• End qualified immunity for police officers and departments that violate Americans’ constitutional rights.

  The House and Senate are debating the Justice In Policing Act 2020. We need an end to qualified immunity.

  The bill also put more money into police departments instead of in Community initiatives. We need to redirect funds and prioritize investment in community health, education, and housing. 

  Background: Why we need to End Qualified Immunity For PolIce Officers

  According to a National Academy of Sciences study black men are two-and-a-half times more likely to be killed by law enforcement over their lifetime than white men. Over the course of their lives, approximately one in every 1,000 black men can expect to be killed by police. 

Resource:

https://capitalbnews.org/trump-executive-orders-black-americans/

https://capitalbnews.org/trump-executive-orders-black-americans/