NC’s FUTURE DEPENDS ON INCLUSION -
NOT RETREAT
Guest commentary by Rep. Amos L. Quick III
District 58 (D- Guilford)
As always during the last week of the year, I take off for the New Year and my birthday. Indeed, this week I’ll be celebrating my 70th, something I genuinely thought I’d never see.
But this gives me a chance to share a commentary sent to me by the legislative office of Rep. Amos L. Quick, Democrat of Guilford County’s District 58.
Rep. Quick makes the case for DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) in North Carolina, and, in my opinion, is worth a read. And I’ll be back in the saddle next week. Happy New Year!
————————————————————————————————————————————————
North Carolina is experiencing one of the most dynamic periods of economic growth in its history. People are moving here from across the nation and the world because this state has long embraced innovation, education, and opportunity. But a thriving economy requires a strong, diverse, and well-prepared workforce and recent actions by state leaders threaten to undermine the very foundation of that success.
Instead of strengthening our talent pipeline, the General Assembly and the UNC Board of Governors have chosen to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives across public universities. These decisions are not only morally troubling they are economically reckless.
A Coordinated Dismantling of DEI Across North Carolina
In 2024, the UNC Board of Governors voted to eliminate DEI programs across the entire UNC System, affecting nearly 250,000 students statewide. This decision repealed longstanding policies requiring each campus to maintain DEI leadership and accountability structures.
The consequences have been sweeping:
- Multiple universities: including North Carolina A&T State University, closed or restructured their DEI offices.
- Dozens of DEI-related positions were eliminated across the system.
- Identity-based centers that support historically marginalized students were
weakened or defunded.
These changes were not driven by student needs, workforce demands, or economic strategy. They were driven by politics and they jeopardize the very institutions that fuel North Carolina’s economic engine.
The Economic Case for DEI Remains Overwhelming
DEI is not a slogan. It is a proven economic strategy.
- Companies with racially and ethnically diverse leadership teams are 36% more
likely to outperform peers.
- Diverse companies are 70% more likely to capture new markets.
North Carolina’s own success story proves this.
North Carolina A&T State University, the nation’s largest HBCU, produces more Black
engineers than any other institution in America. These graduates are the backbone of the Triad’s growing advanced manufacturing, aerospace, and clean-energy sectors.
Major employers like JetZero, Boom Supersonic, and Toyota have invested billions in this region because of the skilled, diverse workforce trained here. Undermining DEI undermines the very reason these companies chose North Carolina in the first place.
A Troubling Pattern: Silencing Voices Alongside Dismantling DEI
The rollback of DEI is not happening in isolation. It is part of a broader pattern of restricting access, representation, and participation.
This year, Guilford County removed North Carolina A&T State University, the nation’s largest HBCU, as an early voting site, despite its long history of high student turnout and its central role in civic engagement. Students were forced to travel off campus to vote, creating unnecessary barriers for thousands of young voters.
Removing DEI programs while simultaneously removing polling access at the state’s largest HBCU sends a clear and chilling message:
Certain voices are being pushed out of North Carolina’s future.
Representative Quick’s Powerful Advocacy for Public Education
Representative Amos Quick III has long been a champion for public education, but his leadership was especially visible during last week’s heated legislative hearing involving Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. The hearing devolved into shouting, book-throwing, and personal attacks from committee leadership, behavior that Rep. Quick publicly condemned as unprofessional and deeply troubling.
He described the spectacle as “secondhand embarrassment” for the General Assembly and called out the hostile treatment of educators who were simply trying to explain their compliance with the law. His presence and remarks made a significant impact, reminding the public that North Carolina’s educators deserve respect, not political theater!
His advocacy in that moment underscored a truth he has championed for years: Strong public schools are the backbone of a strong democracy.
Representative Quick: “These Measures Are Regressive, Dangerous, and I Am Disgusted.”
Representative Quick has been unwavering in his opposition to these attacks on inclusion and democracy. During debate on HB 171, he reminded his colleagues:
“Be not weary in well doing because in due season you will reap if you faint not.” —
Galatians 6:9
He continued:
“Policies and laws that have ensured diversity, equity, and inclusion in all phases of American life have strengthened this nation, and I ask you to vote NO.”
Today, as DEI programs are dismantled and polling access is stripped from HBCU students, Representative Quick is disgusted by these regressive measures. He intends to fight relentlessly for the people of North Carolina, for their right to opportunity, and for their right to be heard.
A Regressive Message With Real Consequences
The message these policies send is unmistakable:
Unless you already belong to the most privileged groups, your presence and participation are unwelcome.
This is not only morally wrong it is economically self-destructive.
North Carolina added more than 91,000 new jobs last year, most requiring postsecondary education or specialized training. Eliminating DEI programs directly undermines our ability to fill those jobs with homegrown talent.
We have seen the consequences of exclusion before. HB2 cost North Carolina at least $3.76 billion in lost business over a dozen years. Companies do not invest in states that make national headlines for discrimination.
The Path Forward: Sustain the Vetoes and Restore Inclusion
For the good of our state, the General Assembly must sustain the Governor’s vetoes of HB 171, SB 227, and SB 558. These bills weaken our workforce, damage our institutions, and threaten our economic future.
If North Carolina wants to continue leading the nation in job creation, innovation, and education, we must lead on inclusion as well.
Our future depends on it.
-30-
No comments:
Post a Comment