Ohio senator and “Hillbilly Elegy” author J.D. Vance expressed strong disapproval of a Forbes article discussing methods to “decenter Whiteness” in the workplace.
Vance announced that his staff would investigate the organization of the article’s author to determine if it receives any funding from Ohio.
The article, titled “3 Ways To Decenter Whiteness In Your Workplace,” was authored by Janice Gassam Asare, founder of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultancy BWG Business Solutions. Asare’s piece focused on strategies to diminish “Whiteness” in the workplace to better accommodate people “of color.”
Asare described “White-centering” as a system that “prioritizes White dominant culture to the detriment of non-White groups and cultures.” She identified it as a pervasive issue.
“Because White-centering is often left unexamined and unchecked, equity and justice have continued to evade organizations,” Asare wrote.
Vance, reacting to the article and its rhetoric, was unequivocal in his criticism.
“I’m just done with this shit. It’s racist and it’s gross. Forbes should be ashamed of themselves for publishing it,” he wrote on X. “The author is a ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ consultant. I’ve directed my staff to investigate whether her ‘business’ receives any public money from Ohio.”
I'm just done with this shit. It's racist and it's gross. Forbes should be ashamed of themselves for publishing it.
The author is a "diversity, equity, and inclusion" consultant. I've directed my staff to investigate whether her "business" receives any public money from Ohio. https://t.co/Mce5DFVTti
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) November 22, 2023
When contacted by Fox News Digital for a response, Asare indicated that Vance misunderstood the concept of decentering whiteness.
“I would say this: It’s obvious that the senator has no idea what decentering whiteness actually means and how it’s about the system of whiteness and not one white person or white people,” she explained. “I expound on what decentering whiteness in the workplace means in my book of the same name, which I’m happy to send to the senator or to anyone else that is confused.”
The article and Forbes’ decision to publish it also drew criticism from other public figures. Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, condemned the piece as “anti-American hate and racism.” David Harsanyi, a fellow writer at The Federalist, argued that the only way to “Decenter Whiteness” would be by dismissing White employees, as Whiteness is an immutable characteristic.”
