Therein lies the rub, doesn't it?
Historically, policies with intent to combat inequities (such as DEI initiatives) ironically end up hurting what should be a morally altruistic goal. There are multiple reasons this seems to happen over and over, so it's a complex issue for sure.
A large part of it is the consequence of what basically is a herd mentality, where liberal elitists (the herd) embrace the ideas with an almost religious fervor. As a result, the white Anglo-Saxon populace begins to feel "lectured to" by a typically wealthy minority with no true life experience, whose intent is to drive the bus with guilt and shame as the fuel -
"Lets punish those privileged racist evil colonizers by shaming them and usurping their money and power, and then rejoice in our forced virtues.... ".
A backlash is inevitable, and the frustrating part is that the people that ultimately end up hurting the very cause they are trying to fix never get it - they double-down on the belief that the push-back is because everyone else is ignorant, at best, or blatantly racist/misogynist/phobic at worst. They are blinded to their own culpability.
The other factor is the "quick fix" approach. The reality is that no matter how hard you try, you can't legislate fairness, you just can't. The only way to genuinely achieve a degree of true equity is to start at the family level. Programs to assist parents
early on with improved access to quality daycare, subsidised tutoring beginning at the kindergarten level, financial assistance with parental adult education and/or transportation costs to places of employment, etc., would build a foundation that pays dividends in the future. Simply throwing taxpayor money at those in need to make it easier to buy food or pay rent (albeit with good intent) simply creates a government dependency state which ultimately makes things worse. The goal should be to promote sustained progress, not compensate for inequality.
Lastly, trying to achieve equity by dumbing-down academic standards or lowering expectations, or by bringing the top down instead of focusing on bringing the bottom up, is doomed to fail on numerous levels - it creates resentment and disincentivizes hard work and motivation.
Okay, I'm officially off my high horse....
[Sorry Fry, the conversation has steered from Doyle. Feel free to move things over to the Open Discussion forum if you think it's necessary]