<p>DEI is under attack. But what exactly is being defended? We take on the three letters that have become everything from a flagellant workplace promise, to an impotent political punchline.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>We get into Reform UK’s proposal to scrap the Equality Act, the backlash against diversity, equity and inclusion, and the class conversation that keeps being used as a wedge instead of a route to solidarity.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Tamanda explains what the Equality Act and Public Sector Equality Duty actually do, why the Bank of England internship controversy became such a political flashpoint, and why class and socioeconomic status need to be part of any serious&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;conversation about equality.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Aiwan reflects on the creative industries after BLM, the realities of being treated like a quota, and why marginalised creatives do not need endless “emerging talent” schemes as much as they need infrastructure, commissioning, fair pay and real backing.</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Together, we ask: What happened to DEI? How did radical struggles for justice become corporate diversity awards, PR statements, bureaucratic documents and business-case language? And can DEI ever be reclaimed if it cannot talk honestly about race, class and power?</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p><strong>🎙️ In this episode:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Reform and the Equality Act:</strong> What the proposal to scrap the Act reveals about race, class and political dog whistles</li><li><strong>Tokenisation vs. Transformation:</strong>&nbsp;Aiwan shares her personal experiences of being "box-ticked" by white-led companies during the BLM era and the "disheartening dehumanisation" of being instrumentalised for PR</li><li><strong>The Missing Class Link:</strong>&nbsp;Why the exclusion of socioeconomic status from the Equality Act allows elites to use "divide and conquer" tactics to keep marginalised groups at odds</li><li><strong>The Language of Distraction:</strong>&nbsp;A look at the ever-shifting terminology, from "BAME" to "Global Majority" and whether this towering "Babel" of acronyms prevents us from facing systemic racism head-on</li><li><strong>Radical Histories &amp; What DEI Should Become:</strong>&nbsp;Remembering the legacy of warriors like Doreen Lawrence and the McPherson report, and why we must restore DEI as a moral and ethical imperative</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p><p>🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts</p><p>🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: <a href="https://youtu.be/Y2-pmW9WwV0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/Y2-pmW9WwV0</a> &nbsp;</p><p>☕&nbsp;Support the show:&nbsp;<a href="https://buymeacoffee.com/rigourandflow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://buymeacoffee.com/rigourandflow</a></p><br><p>🔁 Share this episode with someone ready to move beyond the "business case" and toward actual justice</p><p><strong>Please rate, review and subscribe for weekly episodes.</strong></p><p>Connect with us on:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@rigourandflow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TikTok</a></li><li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rigourandflow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li><li><a href="https://uk.linkedin.com/company/rigourandflow" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LinkedIn</a></li><li><a href="www.aiaistudios.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AiAi Studios</a></li><li><a href="www.rootsandrigour.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Roots &amp; Rigour</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><em>This is an </em><a href="https://open.acast.com/networks/67d57addaaba807fb7eb365a/shows/67d57d23b3ef7ea352b50da3/www.aiaistudios.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>AiAi Studios</em></a><em> Production</em></p><p><em>©AiAi Studios 2025</em></p><hr><p style='color:grey; font-size:0.75em;'> Hosted on Acast. See <a style='color:grey;' target='_blank' rel='noopener noreferrer' href='https://acast.com/privacy'>acast.com/privacy</a> for more information.</p>