Donald Trump has ordered federal agencies to stop racial sensitivity training, labeling it “divisive, anti-American propaganda”.
In a memo sent to all government agencies Trump said it has come to his attention that millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money have funded such “trainings”.adding that these sessions only foster resentment in the workforce.
All agencies are directed to begin to identify all contracts or other agency spending related to any training on ‘critical race theory,’ ‘white privilege,’ or any other training or propaganda effort that teaches or suggests either (1) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or (2) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil.”
The memo also falsely states that “according to press reports, employees across the Executive Branch have been required to attend training where they are told that ‘virtually all White people contribute to racism’ or where they are required to say that they ‘benefit from racism’.”
I think this is total BS. It is just one more hateful demand coming from the Evil Office.
Agencies which take this literally will likely ignore it because any legitimate, thoughtful sensitivity training having to do with race and discrimination would NEVER teach or suggest “either (1) that the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or (2) that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil.”
The whole idea of these trainings is to promote awareness of the experience of others and better understanding of how one’s words, behaviors and attitudes effect others and to make for a more equitable and harmonious work environment.
The order does not prohibit diversity training. It prohibits training which disparages or scapegoats any particular race and/or which disparages the United States. It is directed at a new, racist form of training which demonizes white Americans and claims that the US is inherently racist.
The U.S. IS inherently racist. If you don’t understand that, you understand nothing. Further, it does not demonize white Americans to point out that all white Americans benefit from privilege in the current society, whether they want to or not. There is plenty of material to explain the concept of privilege easily found online. Do some reading.