The problem with MEI

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun issued Executive Order (EO) 25-14 this past January.

Its ostensible purpose is “Ensuring that all Hoosiers have equality of opportunity by eliminating DEI in state government.” (DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.)

To put it mildly, it is extremely difficult to understand how the EO’s stated outcome (i.e., equality of opportunity for all Hoosiers) would be achieved by supplanting DEI with what Governor Braun refers to as Merit, Excellence, and Innovation or MEI. (More on that later.)

Obviously, the EO assumes that DEI somehow poses a barrier to equality among Hoosiers. Thus, the first question that comes to mind is, “Which Hoosiers does DEI disadvantage?” The second question is, “How, specifically, are those Hoosiers being disadvantaged?”

The only logical (and honest) answer to the first question is that the governor believes that DEI somehow gives Hoosiers of color “advantages” over white Hoosiers. Thus, the answer to the second question necessarily must present empirical evidence to justify that conclusion. And therein lies the problem.

Hoosiers who are Black or Hispanic lag behind white Hoosiers in every socioeconomic category. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income of white Hoosiers in 2023 was about $89,050, whereas the median income of Black Hoosiers is roughly $56,490. For Hispanic Hoosiers (of all races), it was $65,540.

White Hoosiers have the highest median wealth (roughly 8 times higher than Blacks and 5 times higher than Hispanics). On average, white Hoosiers also live the longest, are the healthiest, and experience the least crime.

Further, the median home value in majority white neighborhoods was 60% higher than the median home value in majority Black neighborhoods in Marion County in 2018. Also, according to the 2023 Indiana Department of Workforce Development, the Black unemployment rate is 4.4% compared to 2.8% for whites. And Black residents in Marion County are overrepresented in low-wage, low-growth sectors.

Disparities in adult income impact the future earnings of Black children. A 2021 SAVI report revealed that Indianapolis ranks 48th overall across the fifty largest U.S. cities for economic mobility among children born in low-income households. As adults, Black children born in low-income families in Indianapolis earned an average of $9,000 less (29%) than white children who are born in low-income families.

I could go on, but the point is clear: DEI does not discriminate against white Hoosiers.

Despite the data, Braun has implemented what he calls “MEI” as an antidote to DEI. Yet, the opposite of DEI is not MEI; the opposite of DEI is HEI (i.e., Homogeneity, Inequity, and Exclusion). Moreover, the governor has never defined what MEI is. This reminds me of a wonderful scene in Alice in Wonderland:

“One day, Alice came to a fork in the road and saw a Cheshire cat in a tree. ‘Which road do I take?’ she asked. ‘Where do you want to go?’ was his response. ‘I don’t know,’ Alice answered. ‘Then,’ said the cat, ‘it doesn’t matter.’”

Without a definition, MEI cannot have a destination.

Braun wrote: “My priority is delivering Freedom and Opportunity for all Hoosiers. Merit, Excellence, and Innovation and a relentless focus on results over everything else are how we’re getting it done.”

As a highly successful businessman, I’m certain that Governor Braun sets specific success metrics in his companies. By contrast, MEI does not offer any measures that would define its success. In short, MEI is a “solution” to a problem that clearly does not exist. And even if the ostensible problem existed, MEI wouldn’t be a solution to it. I like to say that I’m interested in losing weight, but the amount of pizza and pop that I consume attests that I’m not.

The bottom line is that we have seen this movie before; we know how it ends. There will be substantially fewer opportunities for people of color, leading to greater racial disparities in every socioeconomic category. Of course, the barring of DEI most likely means that, unlike in previous years, Indiana will not even track said disparities. Doing so would be engaging in DEI. And around we go.

Braun has stated that “Indiana has replaced the divisive, politically charged DEI ideology with Merit, Excellence, and Innovation.” As is true of the governor, I am pro-life. Few issues in America are as divisive as abortion. Yet, the governor does not shrink from the division that issue engenders. Why, then, would he shrink from doing what’s right when it comes to efforts that reduce racial discrimination?

To be clear, I have never met anyone who is against merit. By contrast, I have met hundreds of people who argue that we should return to a time in which meritocracy prevailed. My question to them is simply this: At what point was America — or Indiana — a meritocracy? Was it when African Americans were deemed to be 3/5 of a human being? Before the Civil Rights Movement? I have yet to receive an answer.

Moreover, it is no coincidence that the organizations that are most against DEI are the least diverse. When I look at the Braun’s Cabinet, I can only conclude one of two things: Only one or two Black Hoosiers are “meritorious” — or “merit” defined (with very few exceptions) as being white and male. What other reasonable conclusion could one draw?

The data prove that racial inequality in Indiana remains a major problem. Thus, unless MEI miraculously proves us wrong, the doubts that people of color have about it will remain reasonable.

Larry Smith is a community leader. Contact him at larry@leaf-llc.com.