Property is Power! How Trump’s Assault on DEI Threatens Black Economic and Social Gains

December 23, 2025

Dr. Anthony O. Kellum argues that the Trump administration's policies since January 2025 represent a systematic dismantling of systems that have supported Black Americans' economic advancement over six decades. By eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs across federal agencies, educational institutions, and corporate contractors, these policies directly threaten Black access to education, employment, and homeownership.

Who is affected

Black Americans broadly, particularly regarding economic mobility and wealth accumulation
Black professionals in corporate and federal contracting sectors
Students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs)
Black students in university access programs
Black entrepreneurs seeking capital from philanthropic foundations
Visitors and stakeholders of the National Museum of African American History
Federal contractors and grantees previously operating DEI programs
Black homeowners and prospective homebuyers

What action is being taken

The Trump administration is dismantling diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives across government agencies
The administration is removing Black historical figures from national websites
The Department of Education is rolling back funding that affects HBCUs
DEI offices are being terminated
Equity-related grants are being eliminated
Workplace protections are being removed
Federal contractors and grantees are being forced to certify they do not operate DEI programs
The administration is threatening corporations, universities, nonprofits, and foundations with legal action regarding DEI programs
Executive orders requiring federal contractors to take proactive steps against discrimination are being repealed

Why it matters

The significance lies in the structural connection between equity programs and Black wealth accumulation, which in America is primarily built through homeownership rather than income alone. DEI initiatives have served as critical pathways enabling Black Americans to access professional sectors, stable employment, and ultimately mortgage eligibility. Their removal threatens to reverse decades of limited but meaningful progress by constricting access to education, employment stability, and wage growth—all prerequisites for homeownership. This matters because without intentional equity measures, the system defaults to "passive inequality" that perpetuates existing disparities, as wealth compounds among those with inherited access while Black communities face declining homeownership rates, increased rental dependency, and heightened displacement vulnerability.

What's next

Black communities must maintain political, civic, and economic voice and participation
Communities should intentionally build and strengthen parallel systems of support
Black-led financial institutions must remain visible and engaged across professional, educational, and civic spaces
The "Property is Power!" movement aims to promote home and community ownership as a response to these challenges

Read full article from source: Michigan Chronicle