Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott is standing firm on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies, despite mounting pushback against the controversial programs and initiatives. (Kenneth K. Lam/Baltimore Sun/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Scott is now doubling down on DEI and said he is launching a "Definitely Earned It" campaign for Black History Month, which is taking place throughout February. The term is a play on the words "Didn’t Earn It," which opponents of DEI use to highlight what they say is its lack of meritocracy baked into DEI.
He said he wants to set the record straight on DEI policies, which he views as enacting American values.
"Because we have to be bigger and Blacker and louder than ever," Scott told The Associated Press in an interview addressing why he is launching the campaign.
"We cannot allow that darkness to try to come and overtake our light, because darkness can’t overtake light, only light can overcome darkness. Don’t run away, don’t hide, don’t shrink in the moment, be who you are and push back in every single way that you can."
Scott said that his "Definitely Earned It" campaign will be an expansion of Black History Month, highlighting the impact Black people have had on the country.
The Trump administration is on a mission to gut all programs and initiatives associated with DEI within the federal government, arguing it has lowered standards and promote a woke agenda. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Significant brands such as Walmart, McDonald's, Amazon, Ford and Lowe's have all begun rolling back DEI initiatives in response to a cultural shift that included customer backlash, pressure from conservative-leaning groups and activists, and possible legal ramifications.
DEI came into sharp focus again last week when President Donald Trump said the DC plane crash disaster — between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines jet colliding midair near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport — was caused by DEI, though he acknowledged that the cause of the crash has yet to be determined.
Trump highlighted efforts by the Biden administration to lower aviation standards and said he believed DEI played a factor because he has "common sense."
Scott said he faced backlash over the Baltimore Bridge collapse without any justification.
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He noted that the bridge was built before he was born, built by very few minorities and the ship was not piloted by a Black person.
"What these folks who unfortunately think that way think is that unless you are a straight white male from a certain background — because I want my poor white brothers and sisters to understand that they’re not talking about them either, right — unless you are from a certain background, wealthy historic families with straight white Christian men, then you should never be in a position of power and that your thoughts and opinions don’t matter," Scott said.
"And that is the saddest part of it all."
Fox News’ Alexandra Koch and Breck Dumas contributed to this report.
Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business.
You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
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