In a groundbreaking study, researchers from the Network Contagion Research Institute (NCRI) and Rutgers University have uncovered troubling insights into Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training programs. These initiatives, often touted as tools to reduce systemic injustice, may be fostering division, hostility, and even dangerous biases against specific groups, including Hindus.
According to a report by Colin Wright, a fellow at Manhattan Institute, the research, which involved controlled experiments, investigated the psychological impacts of DEI pedagogy—particularly training programs inspired by widely used texts like How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi and White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo. The findings suggest that these materials can amplify perceptions of bias where none exists, fuel agreement with authoritarian rhetoric, and worsen intergroup tensions.
Here is what you need to know
In one experiment, participants were divided into two groups: one exposed to excerpts from DEI texts and the other reading neutral material. Both groups were then asked to evaluate a hypothetical scenario in which an applicant was rejected from an elite university.
Those exposed to the DEI materials were significantly more likely to perceive racism in the admissions process, despite the scenario providing no evidence of bias. They were also more likely to advocate punitive measures, such as disciplining the admissions officer or imposing further DEI training.
Another experiment examined anti-Islamophobia training, using controlled scenarios featuring two individuals, Ahmed Akhtar and George Green, who had been convicted of identical terrorism charges. The control group perceived both trials as equally fair. However, those exposed to anti-Islamophobia training rated Ahmed’s trial as significantly less fair, even though the specifics of both cases were identical.
According to the researchers, such findings highlight a concerning pattern: DEI programs, while intended to combat prejudice, may lead participants to assume bias where none exists, reinforcing perceptions of systemic injustice even in neutral contexts.
DEI training is giving rise to dehumanization of Hindus
Perhaps the most alarming results emerged from experiments focused on caste-based DEI training. The researchers analyzed materials from Equality Labs, a prominent organization offering so-called ‘anti-caste’ training to corporations and universities.
Image: X/@HinduAmerican
Participants exposed to Equality Labs materials were more likely to perceive bias and harm in otherwise neutral situations. Even more troubling, the training appeared to normalize dehumanizing language. When participants were shown adapted quotes from Adolf Hitler, replacing the word “Jew” with “Brahmin,” those who had undergone Equality Labs training were more likely to agree with statements labeling Brahmins as “parasites,” “virus,” or “devil personified.”
The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) has since condemned these findings, stating:
Suhag Shukla, Executive Director of HAF, echoed these sentiments on social media, writing:
A statement from Coalition of Hindus of North America reads:
Media Suppression
Despite the study’s significance, reports indicate that The New York Times and Bloomberg killed stories covering the findings at the last moment. The Hindu American Foundation has criticized this decision, claiming it denies the public access to critical information about the unintended consequences of DEI initiatives.
HAF released a statement alleging:
Broader Implications
The NCRI study builds on a growing body of research questioning the efficacy of DEI programs. A 2021 meta-analysis cited by the report found that some initiatives not only fail to reduce prejudice but may exacerbate it, leading to greater resentment and division.
By exposing the potential harms of untested DEI strategies, the NCRI research raises critical questions about accountability and oversight. Are these programs genuinely fostering inclusion, or are they inadvertently perpetuating cycles of suspicion and hostility?
As the debate over DEI pedagogy intensifies, the suppression of such findings by major media outlets further complicates the issue. At a time when public trust in institutions is fragile, the need for transparency is paramount.
The NCRI study offers a sobering reminder that even well-intentioned efforts to promote harmony must be rigorously evaluated for unintended consequences. Without such scrutiny, initiatives meant to heal divisions may end up deepening them.
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