Beware of woke scams

In a recent WhatsApp discussion about spatial development, I saw the familiar poison of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). I knew that this was happening because of the language being used. As a general rule, whenever words like “inclusion”, “diversity,” “integration,” “inequality,” “representation,” and “historic” are used with a sense of moral guilt, you know that the cancer is spreading.

Despite the nice sounding words, this “woke” ideology has repeatedly under-delivered in the real world. Rather than improving outcomes, it always makes things worse.

When I think about the woke cancer I am reminded of the Fish Hoek High school diversity training event from 2021. At this event learners were told that “white people are the only ones who can be racist.” The coordinators of the event equated Christianity to “white patriarchal oppression.” One mother I spoke to said that her daughter left in tears after being “traumatized” by the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) diversity training.

When ideology (such as DEI) becomes a substitute for high standards, accountability weakens and the slop spreads. History offers many reminders. In the 20th century, authoritarian regimes such as National Socialism, Stalinism and Maoism incentivised loyalty over competence. Advancement followed ideological conformity rather than performance, to predictable economic and institutional decline. Chaos.

Today’s woke movement, which includes the Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) industry shows the same signs. In Southern Africa, the “Freedom Charter” incentivises DEI over competence. The woke cult contains a belief that public displays of virtue can be used to evade accountability. This creates a perverse incentive: attach one’s ambitions to so-called “justice” causes and, in doing so, secure a degree of immunity from consequences. The end is a drop in standards and slop.

Not only does the diversity movement lead to a lowering of standards and slop, but there is also lots and lots of money to be made. People have seen the financial gain from driving woke causes and so are scamming businesses and people out of money. Whenever you hear someone using the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) language, know that you are being scammed and typically these grifters will misuse your hard earned wealth.

For example, donations poured into Black Lives Matter-affiliated organisations after the death of George Floyd in 2020. However, later investigations showed a misuse of money as Victor Hansen describes:

“After the death of George Floyd, the founders of the left-wing Black Lives Matter movement went on a house-buying rampage. The more corporations filled their coffers with millions, either from guilt or as protection money, the more new homes the directors purchased.”

Beware of woke scams. We have a responsibility to stop this poison destroying our children’s future.