Month: January 2025

As a person who worked closely with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives since the late 1990s as a volunteer diversity trainer and eventually as the first Chief Diversity Officer at a university, I recognized and sounded the alarm for years that a white male back lash was coming. My cautious warnings about over-reach were often muted by short-sighed overly-enthusiast folks with louder vindictive voices. I understood that white men in power were not going to sit idly by and have the power and privileged position they enjoyed for years stripped away from them for the sake of “fairness”. In America, the moral argument always ends at the pocketbook. I recognized that excluding and often villainizing white men as oppressors and making them feel attacked and discriminated against because positions they were once entitled to based solely on their “male whiteness” were now being given to “qualified” women or minorities wasn’t going to last. I knew it. And now, in retirement, I am being proven right.

In my doctoral dissertation, I described how the system of cronyism elevated white people to positions of authority based solely on their social class connections, not their actual qualifications. That system never completely disappeared. However, the introduction of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at least required that people with the authority to hire and promote at least consider others who might be the best person for the job based on actual merit and experience as opposed to social comfort and connections. We’ve all heard the saying, “It’s not what you know; it’s who you know.” That is how white men operated for years to the exclusion of women and minorities from opportunities to excel. Because of undercover “sponsorships”, many times women and minorities didn’t even know certain jobs existed. At the University, I watched white men actually create positions out of thin air for other white men who needed a job.

At the root of the today’s problem, however, was a calculated widespread rumor and now belief that women and persons of color cannot actually possess skills, knowledge, and competence for high level positions of leadership. After all, didn’t the country make concerted efforts to ensure minority schools were severely underfunded and women were discouraged by bullying and sexual intimidation to stop these people from acquiring the exceptional requirements for good jobs? However, the truly ambitious and intelligent few mustered the courage and energy to overcome the obstacles to their utter dismay.

I’ve felt that dismay personally every time a master’s level student walked into my classroom and did a double take. I could almost hear their cognitive dissonance, “How is she the professor”. Or the time, many years ago when I told an old acquaintance that I worked at the University, and she immediately assumed that I must be a secretary. I politely informed her that my mother would turn over in her grave if I got all this education just to become a secretary (now administrative assistant). I know women and people of color who are doctors and attorneys and scientists and pilots all face similar assumptions about their qualifications despite their education, experience, and accomplishments. We saw it in this presidential election. Harris was fully qualified, widely experienced, and notably competent, but many people, particularly white males and older white females couldn’t believe it nor accept it. They assumed the lying, sex-abusing felon who bankrupted six businesses and defrauded contractors, banks, and the government was more qualified to be president.

So, it is not surprising to me that the Chief Villain (Trump) has halted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the federal government and is pushing private industry and universities to do the same. His is attempting to reverse anti-discrimination laws and re-open the doors for the kind of cronyism we see playing out in his cabinet nominations. They are people whom he likes on a social level because they will be loyal to him. With the exception of Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, his nominees don’t even have the knowledge or requisite qualifications for the positions they are being recommended for. Some, like JKF, Jr. are even dangerous. But with our cowardly senators, it does no good to cry over spilled milk. Instead, I’m interested in protecting and advancing folks in the midst of this storm.

My advice to parents of black and brown youth is to make sure you and your children are highly educated and highly skilled and prepared to leave the country if necessary. Keep your young people off the streets as much as possible as police will be looking to arrest them and confine them to “for-profit” prisons. I believe the plan is to utilize prisoners as cheap labor to industries that will desperately need laborers when mass deportations take effect. Already, 75% of orange pickers didn’t show up for work in Kern County California this past week for fear of being rounded up by ICE. That leaves fruit on the vine to rot. That means a shortage of fruit on grocery shelves and much higher prices. Americans will demand lower prices, and they will be happy to utilize prison labor (legalized slavery) when milk prices, produce, and meat prices skyrocket because of labor shortages. The need for labor will make black and brown young adults targets for arrest and imprisonment. Perhaps these are the “black jobs” Trump really wants us to do.

As for the educated and skilled among us, I have fewer worries because employers will always need people to get the job done. Be unreplaceable. We absolutely must invest in the education of our boys and girls now or they will literally lose their freedom in the future. I’m for taking our creativity and hard work and putting it into new businesses of our own. However, history has shown us that white people in this country are prone to envy and are willing to destroy our prosperous businesses and communities without much provocation. Envy is a powerful emotion. So, we must be wise and follow the example of the Asians who study hard, diligently do their work, and quietly accumulate wealth.

In other words, we must fly under the radar this time by integrating into diverse communities, not the old model of segregation that makes us an easy target. Choose neighborhoods with excellent schools and low crime rates where the property values increase. Let’s invest in and support each other, not tear each other down. To my fellow grandparents, aunties and uncles, cousins, and God parents, I say we must double our investment in the children in our extended families with our time and our treasure to ensure they have everything they need to grow up healthy, strong, and capable. Let’s keep our prosperity quiet and not be flashy about it. Flashiness only makes us a target. Leave the flashiness to the rappers and athletes and entertainers. The rest of us need to be serious about saving and investing for the future rather than spending our money in their stores. The time for courage, self-reliance and diligence is now.

In closing, I must acknowledge with certainty that this current government is against us. White supremacy and White “Christian” Nationalists have an agenda that is harmful to women, people of color and other minorities. They are literally following the Nazi step by step playbook. They’ve secured the media, banned books, rolled back rights, found scapegoats in trans people and immigrants and JD Vance characterized college professors as “enemies”. It all sounds so dire. But I also believe in God’s promise that no weapon formed against us will prosper. History has shown us that it always takes an ugly struggle to defeat oppression if we allow it to go too far. So, before it gets any worse, the time to fight hard for our family’s future is now. Do not look away. Do not be silent. Do not agree in advance. Do not give in to the exhaustion their assault is causing. Instead, join the fight by first ensuring your family is protected and then support efforts to oppose this evil agenda.

Silence is consent. In ways that make sense you, be sure to make your voice heard. Remember that evil persists when good men (and women) do nothing. Personally, I choose to write letters to government leaders and support decent candidates. I encourage people with pens to write letters or send emails if writing is the way you communicate your needs, objections, and desires to decision makers in our government. Others might prefer phone calls, creating artwork, making songs, or marching (like the ones yesterday). Right now, the Republican threat to withhold funding to help the victims of the Southern California fires is on my mind. And I’m speaking up. I hope you will too. If you choose to write to Speaker Johnson, the address is: 568 Cannon House Office Bldg. Washington DC 20515-1804. Below is a copy of my letter to Speaker Mike Johnson that I sent on January 14, 2025. I hope it inspires you.

January 14, 2025

Dear Speaker Johnson,

You, Trump, and the Republican Party are not invisible to God, to the world, to historians, and most importantly to our children.  Your constant hypocrisy, lack of empathy, lack of compassion, lies, false accusations, embrace of lawlessness, and cruelty are evident to us all.  You seek political power and money above decency and service to the most vulnerable among us and above citizens who have lost everything to natural disasters, including to the unpresented fires in Southern California.

As a lifetime taxpayer and resident of California, I was appalled at your comments on national television threatening to attach conditions on aide to people who have lost everything in these fires.  California pays more in federal taxes than most other states and we are aware of the fact that we are a donor state to poor red states like yours.  It is unfair and indecent to suggest that aid for our natural disaster should have conditions when other states do not.  Our leadership may not be perfect, but they are competent and have been doing what they could to prepare.  They have been working tirelessly since the fires.  Unlike some ridiculous vocal members in your Party who believe we can control the rain, we can’t.  The fact that it hasn’t rained in eight months and that we couldn’t turn on the rain during this fire when the helicopters and planes were grounded because of wind is proof of that.  Tell her to shut up.

And no, looting is not now, nor has it ever been legal in our state.  So many lies that mislead people and only add fuel to the fire!

Furthermore, there is no city in the world that would have enough water in neighborhood fire hydrants to put out the vast number of structure fires in winds of up to 100 miles per hour.  Again, the helicopters and planes that we rely on to drop water couldn’t fly at the peak of these winds and so we were helpless. The electricity was out in most areas, and it is needed for pumping water.  With climate change, our fire season is now year-round and we have been working to address the problem for years. There are more facts you should have been informed of regarding our many preparations prior to these fires before you run your mouth on television trying to place blame.  Your comments should have been limited to compassion for American communities and praise for first responders and volunteers in addition to a commitment to help.  

Living in California, we are always aware of the fire danger and people are good about clearing forestry close to their homes.  However, that makes no difference when hurricane force winds send embers flying in all directions for miles.   

You and your Party members should be ashamed of yourselves for your false accusations, lack of understanding, and especially your lack of compassion for the victims of a disaster caused by the very climate change your Party keeps denying and therefore refuses to address.

Jesus said that we will know a tree by the fruit it bears.  So, the fruit I see on your tree is all poisonous.  You claim to be a Christian, but I see nothing of the teachings of Jesus in your words, actions and policies. Where is your care for the “least of these”?  I see you for who you are.  But more importantly, God is watching you.  History is watching you. And our children are watching you.  Do better by our Constitution, the rule of law, and the citizens of this country.  Right now, you and your Party are failing us.  You have sworn allegiance to a man who is hell bent on destroying our country from within with lies, false hoods, cruelty, bullying, lawlessness and the appointment of incompetent/unqualified people to his Cabinet.  Too many Americans voted for him because he tapped into their worse instincts and fears based in racism, homophobia, xenophobia and a bunch of lies and false promises. 

I’ve said this before, Congress is a separate but equal branch of government. Get up the courage to do your job responsibly!  All I see these days are a bunch of cowards afraid to stand up for what is just and what is right and what is good.  Your loyalty is sorely misplaced at present, but you can and must do better for the future of our country, starting with providing the much-needed aid to the victims of the fires in Southern California.   

Sincerely,

Dr. Juanita Hall

Voting Citizen of the United States

At my core, I’m a person who wants to enable those who are willing to put in the time and effort it takes to improve human lives. This means that I’m a highly empathetic observer, an educator, and a communicator. I’m lucky to have found my purpose early enough in life to enjoy working with university students, faculty, and other colleagues to solve problems during my 25 years in higher education. I realized early in life that I liked to put systems in place to make things fair. I continue to choose friends who prefer order over chaos and productivity over laziness. I came to understand that I am most attracted to people who not only have ambition, but who have good character, intelligence, energy and the tenacity to push forward. I harbor an often-silent distain for the selfishly ambitious who willingly step on others to get ahead. I’ve seen too much of that in my life and career and my solution until now has been to distance myself from those people. However, with regards to our political leadership, silence only becomes consent that further empowers their horrific dealings. I consider it a gift that I easily recognize the desirable traits in people, and I joyfully become of service to them as a sounding board, counselor, cheerleader, mentor, and sponsor.

Through this blog, I not only report what I’m observing in the world, but my response to it, hoping that others are inspired to respond in ways that will be helpful to them. That said, I have a few concerns for the future of our young people if voting Americans aren’t able to access the reliable information needed to make reasonable decisions.

My greatest fear is that our media outlets have been hijacked by powerful rich white men whose agenda is to re-assert white male supremacy and white male rule in every sector of American life. They are attempting to take control over every narrative, including science, social relationships, healthcare, crime rates, the economy, and climate change. They have the ability to demonize countries and entire groups of people, leading to wars and discrimination. We already saw how right-wing media convinced the country that young black males presented a threat, leading to police brutality, erroneous arrests, harsher sentencing, and incarceration. Recently, we saw how Trump used the media to turn migrants into criminals to be feared and rounded up like animals. We see how Republicans use the media to turn transgender women into threats against women in bathrooms, sports, and children’s identity development.

We are seeing a right-wing takeover of media outlets at every turn. The corporate media, once motivated by profits through clicks and views, is now also fearful of reprisals from the incoming administration if they cross Trump. Social media and corporate news media have ceased robust fact-checking and are actively promoting the voices of those who question the aptitude and leadership of women and people of color as DEI hires despite their resumes. I was shocked to hear the fire chief of Los Angeles being called incompetent because she was a woman. Trump is continuously given platforms to literally lie about the leadership’s response to the Los Angeles area fires, and the media aired his blatant lies and unsubstantiated blame claims with minimal rebuttal.

In response to unchecked media attacks on DEI, companies are rolling back the DEI initiatives that gave opportunities to talented job seekers from diverse backgrounds, including women. In the coming years, our corporate media outlets will be no different from the propaganda mills in China, Russia, and North Korea. The voices of those who speak the truth will be effectively silenced or greatly minimized through algorithms designed to weed out all voices of dissent. Real problems like mass shootings, climate disasters, and pandemic deaths can be easily covered up when media are compelled to simply not report certain things.

This is quickly becoming a problem for all of us. Women, immigrants, environmentalist, people of color, and especially LGBTQ folks are in danger of being demonized at the whim of powerful white men who want to preserve white male domination. The answer is to not be silenced and to demand journalistic integrity. We can support independent news outlets and journalists who refuse to be compromised. We can sue media outlets, like Fox, again for misinformation or for failing to report the actual news. We must continue to sue men, like Rudy Guliani, who defame others. We must support civil rights organizations and their attorneys who will stand up for our civil rights. The next few years will demand our attention, our voices, and our dollars.

My second concern is for young women. Despite becoming more educated than their male counterparts in recent years (which is a problem), we’re watching in real time the push to return women to traditional roles as wives and mothers by the most powerful white men in our country. Raising up men by suppressing women is not the best thing for humanity. Talent and innovation are not found in one gender. Both girls and boys need to be raised to reach their full potential. This requires unconditional love and a collective commitment to invest in their education and character development.

Musk and others claim to be concerned with the low birth rates in the country, but that is only a front for their fears of losing white male domination. They have made having children undesirable under the current circumstances and they have no plans to reduce the cost. In fact, their strategy depends on high costs. They believe that keeping childcare unaffordable will force many women with children to stay home. I predict that a Republican Congress will not pass anything having to do with paid maternal leave to further push women out of the work force. They will reduce food programs to force would-be single mothers to remain in dependent relationships that may be unhealthy and even dangerous. The fact that Republicans are trying to make divorce more difficult speaks to their agenda for young women. And of course, removing a woman’s right to abortion is part of their plan. They claim to be concerned about declining birthrates, but the reality is birthrates aren’t a problem if they are willing to allow immigration from Africa and Latin America. We have always been a nation of immigrants, however, these men and their followers make it clear that they only want white immigrants and white babies. This is about white male domination and returning women to roles of subjugation and second-class citizenship.

I predict we will observe more media campaigns designed to convince young white women that their greatest aspiration and role in life is to be a wife and mother. Watch for the proliferation of romanticized images of happy white women with beautiful white babies in the coming months. The policies are going to favor stay-at-home motherhood and marriage. They will make the lives of single white women a living hell by shaming them into submission. When they control the media, they control the narrative. I see the war among white women on social media over their role as women. More than half of white women voted for Trump. They are at war with each other. Black and brown women have always had to balance work and children. We were never the “June Cleavers” in this country. And so, it is no surprise that black women are currently the most highly educated demographic in the nation. As the DEI doors close, we must continue to boldly forge our own paths forward and upward, presenting our undeniable excellence and qualifications as job seekers and entrepreneurs.

Of course, they will do nothing about black female maternal death rates because they don’t want our numbers to grow. In the coming years, it will be increasingly dangerous for black women to have babies, especially in red states. I hope the white nurse who purposefully broke the bones of black babies in the NICU is charged with a hate crime. Unless something changes, I fear for young black females of childbearing age. My advice is to continue our pursuit of education and honing our talents. Find good men who are educated and who see you as an equal partner regardless of their race or ethnicity. Choose doctors you can trust and leave red states. I know many young black females are finding refuge outside the U.S. and I can’t blame them.

These are my greatest concerns. All the stuff Trump says about taking over Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal are only distractions away from their actual agenda: maintaining white male domination by taking over the media and subjugating women.

Let’s not allow it.

I am surrounded by stuff. Most of it we’ve purchased, some was inherited, and a lot has been gifted to us over the years from friends and family. Accumulating stuff is easy. Getting rid of it so that it doesn’t clutter the mind or become a burden to family after we’re gone isn’t easy.

Since I retired, I’ve made several attempts to downsize. I’ve donated my business clothes, shoes, handbags and sorority paraphrenia. I gifted cherished Christmas decorations to family members. I went through my kitchen and donated duplicate kitchen utensils and fad items that once seemed like a good idea but went untouched. I donated pots and pans and mixing bowls and my collection of lunch bags, coffee mugs, and sugar and creamer sets. But I still have too much stuff. I stopped adding to any collections and I rarely purchase anything unless it is a necessity. I realize that I absolutely must make a second round of donations this year. I already have a stack of seasonal throw pillows in my donation pile.

In our wills (one section of our living trust), we’ve designated specific items for family members to inherit when we pass, and we ask that they take whatever they want after that. I’ve directed them to have a professionally run estate sale for everything else and then the can divide up the proceeds equally. It gives me some comfort to know that there is a plan in place for all the stuff we can’t seem to part with in this life. But that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t continue to make an effort to rid us of unwanted clutter. I just feel lighter when I’m not surrounded by so many things. Unfortunately, my husband sometimes stands in the way of my “premature” donations.

I began 2025 by putting away Christmas decorations and setting aside items to send to my children to enjoy in the coming years. There are still Christmas items in the attic that I have yet to address, but I was able to go through several boxes I didn’t open this year while I was putting things away. Some things I will donate because I know the kids won’t want them. My husband was happy to see five Christmas storage boxes emptied on January 2nd. And I do feel lighter.

My next project will be my annual shredding of old files, documents, and receipts. This year I will shred tax returns and documents from 2018. I realize I may be a bit more conservative than some going with seven years instead of five. But I tend to err on the side of caution.

And finally, I’ll ask my husband to help me go through our drawers, boxes, and bins of old electronics and cords. There are so many electronic items that we have been afraid to donate for fear that we might one day need them. In reality, we haven’t looked in some of these bins and boxes for years. We have a Wii system that has been collecting dusk for at least seven years, but he already refused to donate it, thinking guests might want to play with it in the future. I am giving away a digital camera I haven’t used since our trip to Spain in 2010, and some handheld electronic games that I can’t even recall the last time we played them. At the end of 2024, he actually donated his turntable and Bose speaker system, but he kept his many albums. We have two CD players in the garage and boxes full of CDs even though we haven’t listened to music that way for years. The same is true of our four blue ray players and many DVDs. We’ll have to decide together if we’re ready to let go of any of them. Streaming has become our mode of entertainment and yet we are holding on to these collections. The same is true of my 1000-piece jigsaw puzzles.

Perhaps some items like puzzles, DVDs, albums, and CDs will just have to become part of the estate sale along with my books and my mother’s mink coat that I can’t bear to part with for sentimental reasons. For whatever reason, puzzles, books, DVDs, albums, and CDs are in that emotional attachment category and I’ll just have to give myself grace to keep them until the very end.

The point is that collecting stuff is super easy, but downsizing is not only harder and more time consuming; it isn’t even rational.