While there is a decades-long history of institutions implementing policies to seek fairness for minorities, the phrase DEI grew in popularity, and controversy, particularly after the 2020 murder of George Floyd and subsequent national conversations about the way non-white Americans are treated compared to their white counterparts.
But as the attacks on Baltimore and its mayor spread, many Black social media users drew humor from what they saw as a coded way to attack minorities simply by virtue of their skin color.
"They're really calling the Baltimore Mayor a DEI Mayor," one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote with a laughing emoji. "Just say slurs at that point bro."
Another mused: "They used to be Lyndon B. Johnson with the slurs straight to ya face. Now, they hide behind terms they don't even know."
As backlash against the backlash rose, many jokingly "reclaimed" the term DEI, as a stand-in for the less socially acceptable N-word.
In an interview with MSNBC's Joy Reid, Scott acknowledged that he had seen the attacks on his administration and pushed back against accusations that he had been handed his role simply based on his race.
Wearing a purple "From Baltimore With Love" hoodie, Scott put his own spin on the term.
"What they mean by 'DEI,' in my opinion, is duly elected incumbent. We know what they want to say. But they don't have the courage to say the N-word," Scott said.
"What they mean by 'DEI,' in my opinion, is duly elected incumbent. We know what they want to say. But they don't have the courage to say the N-word," Scott said.Fuckin' nice
Fuckin' nice
Politically Correct/PC
Social Justice Warrior/SJW
Woke
Now it's DEI
Irs funny how they all unanimously move on when they realise they eventually make themselves look stupid by overusing the word so much.
Politically Correct/PC
Social Justice Warrior/SJW
Woke
Now it's DEI
Irs funny how they all unanimously move on when they realise they eventually make themselves look stupid by overusing the word so much.