Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce lays out its plan for combatting anti-DEI orders

On day one of the Donald Trump presidency, in a single executive order, the administration revoked 78 orders and actions citing their ties to diversity, equity and inclusion efforts.

Orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion, better known as DEI, included canceling federal programs, terminating federal equal employment opportunity laws going back to 1965 and directing federal agencies to review practices at large private companies and nonprofit organizations that will then be subject to “strategic enforcement” of anti-DEI legislation.

Organizations like the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce (DEBCC) that directly serve the needs of minority businesses and individuals are pushing back, as new federal legislation aims to cut funding, jobs and opportunities from people in those communities. 

“There’s a lot of ignorance and misconception on what DEI is,” Ayanna Khan, president of the DEBCC, told Technical.ly. “They’re saying DEI is discriminatory, but it isn’t. It was anti-discriminatory, that’s why it was implemented. We really have to push back.”

What DEI promotes, she said, is the fair treatment of groups who have been historically discriminated against.

To push back, Khan encourages people to practice group economics, a concept of self-sustaining community collaboration that reduces reliance on a larger inequitable economy.  

“When you look at the Black community alone, we’re talking about a trillion dollars in spending power,” Khan said. “You want to not hire us? We’re not going to spend our money with you.”

To better understand how these federal orders are impacting regional communities, Khan told Technical.ly how the DEBCC is working with Delaware businesses on their DEI endeavors, and shares her perspective on how the organization is involving members of the public, too. 

This Q&A has been edited for length and clarity. 

How has the DEBCC been impacted by federal agencies complying with anti-DEI orders?

One of our federal partners from the Department of Health and Human Services pulled out of our Minority Health Summit in April. They were a sponsor last year and again this year. 

Their regional director has stepped away and the second person we work with is also leaving at the end of this month. She said they aren’t allowed to do this type of work anymore, they’re not allowed to travel or do the education that they were doing on the different aspects of Medicaid. 

We’re seeing federal people step away, either because they’re forced to or because of their own moral compass.

How is the DEBCC weathering the shift?

We’re keeping track of what’s going on federally, we’re maintaining our inclusivity, our diversity, our equity and continuing to be advocating here locally on why these orders are going to hurt us and why we need to stand fast. 

We recently had an equitable hiring initiative webinar with JPMorgan Chase and some other consultants and corporations in the state that came together. JPMorgan Chase doubled down on DEI initiatives. I love that they did that. 

They just had a roundtable with some community organizers in downtown Wilmington. They’re asking, how can we support people of color? How can we do more? We love anyone who continues to be an ally and advocates for equal opportunity and diversity. 

Does the DEBCC have a list of members that people can access online?

No, you have to be a member with a login to access it. 

However, we’ve never denied anyone in the community a list, if you call and say I need a plumber or I need an electrical contractor, we share those lists. 

How can people connect with pro-DEI businesses to support?

Bottom line: Shop local. Stay committed to diversity, inclusion and equity and shop with your local diverse businesses in the community. The things that you get at Walmart or Target you can get at a local business. 

I’m also encouraging small business owners to beef up their e-commerce and their online presence so that we can shop with you online. We can get all of the necessities — no time for excess unwanted spending, at this time especially. 

What else is the DEBCC encouraging the public to do if they disagree with the orders?

Locally we have to encourage our lawmakers to be proactive and to protect us. We need our lawmakers here locally to step up. 

I met with an attorney from the LGBTQ community and one of the things we were discussing was how we can provide more guidance and legal support for this type of landscape that we’re in right now. 

We facilitated a webinar on deportation and immigrant awareness. We want to ensure that folks have the guidance and the information that they need so they can navigate. It’s a lot for businesses and communities and families to navigate.

We can’t be hopeless. We have to be resilient, as we’ve always been. We have to be competitive, as we’ve always been. It’s business as usual. Now is the time to lock in, because they want us to be frazzled.