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Recently I created a post on X (formerly Twitter) about my objection to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. The rant went viral, logging over 13,000 likes and 2,000 retweets as of this writing. It was picked up by Newsweek, and even prompted a response from X owner and Tesla founder Elon Musk.
What follows is a repurposed version of that post:
I earned my MFA from the finest acting conservatory in the US.
Only 2% of applicants get in.
Some of my incredibly gifted classmates auditioned multiple times. I got in on my first try. I secured a great agent and took meetings with major casting offices before even finishing the program.
Over 10 years I built a diverse body of work, excelling in everything from musical comedy to Shakespearean tragedy. I worked with stars, scored award nominations, and won praise from industry legends.
Unfortunately my outspoken objection to industry-wide COVID vaccine mandates ended my blossoming career.
In 2021 a former classmate of mine got in touch with me. We hadn't spoken in years, but he had seen some of my online commentary and interviews. At one point in our conversation he asked a question that stopped me cold:
"Do you think the fact that you're black had anything to do with all your success?"
I had no idea how to answer.
And that uncertainty gets to the heart of my issue with “Diversity” hiring.
On one hand I'm certain I benefited due to my skin color. The entertainment industry is full of well-meaning people, who truly see it as their mission to right the wrongs of the past by making sure to provide opportunities to minorities.
We now live in a world where elite conservatories such as the Juilliard School, the Yale School of Drama, and NYU's Graduate Acting Program are turning out exceptionally-trained minority actors year after year, who then go onto massive success (Emmy winner Sterling K. Brown and Oscar-winner Mahershela Ali, for example, are both alumni of Graduate Acting).
But the thing is, people of all races have been in my corner since I was 16. Everyone—from my black professors to my white colleagues—predicted I had a long career ahead of me.
I fulfilled that promise.
And that's why I reject "Diversity" hiring:
I never needed it.
Such initiatives are an insult to any minority with a shred of self-respect. They cast a shadow over all I've done, because I'm not sure how much of my success is due to me, and how much is due to white guilt.
I'm an exceptional performer. I've always been an exceptional performer. My elite training made me even MORE of an exceptional performer. I've earned this arrogance.
SOME of us don't need "Progressives" to condescend to us, trying to fix what was never broken.
SOME of us know exactly what we bring to the table, and know our value.
SOME of us strive for excellence, and prefer to shine on our own merits.
I know my beliefs will attract racially derogatory backlash. If people want to call me a coon, or tell me I'm not "politically black," or chastise me for not being "Woke" for that, then so be it, my attitude is the same:
In this era, if you think you need DEI to succeed, the problem isn't "the system", the problem isn't "yt pipo."
The problem is you.
— Clifton Duncan