In a recent session at the Legislative Building in Raleigh, officials from Asheville and Buncombe County addressed allegations concerning their use of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies. These policies were reportedly being used to benefit Black residents to the detriment of other racial groups, a claim that officials strongly refuted.
The allegations emerged from Ruth Smith, an Asheville lawyer and former Republican legislative candidate. She asserted that resources were being allocated on racial lines, according to NC Newsline.
Buncombe County Chairwoman Amanda Edwards clarified to the committee that these claims were unfounded. “We are here to correct the record and any misinterpretations,” Edwards stated, explaining that the county’s Racial Equity Action Plan was designed to reach underserved communities, including those in public housing and rural areas, which have a diverse racial composition.
Edwards emphasized, “There have been no instances where race-based criteria or other protected characteristics have been used in any of our work, including hiring, contracts, or allocations of revenue.”
This session comes at a time when Republican legislators have been actively working to dismantle DEI programs across various levels of government. A bill was passed along party lines to ban such initiatives, allowing employees to sue if they believe the law was breached. The bill was vetoed by Democratic Governor Josh Stein, though the legislature retains the option to override the veto.
Despite the assurances from Buncombe officials, skepticism lingered among committee Republicans. Rep. Brian Echevarria (R-Cabarrus) asked Edwards to acknowledge any historical errors made by the county, to which Edwards replied that there were none.
Rep. Keith Kidwell (R-Beaufort), a co-chairman of the committee, criticized the concept of equity, stating, “The moment you inject equity, you lose equality.” His concerns extended to the Community Reparations Commission supported by Asheville and Buncombe County, which recently published a report highlighting disparities in education, health, homeownership, and poverty between Black and white residents.
City Attorney Brad Branham explained that the commission’s suggestions focused on community investment rather than direct financial payouts to individuals. However, Kidwell suggested that the matter might need revisiting in the future.
On the other hand, Rep. Phil Rubin (D-Wake) pointed out the ongoing impact of historical racial discrimination, such as redlining, which contributes to current disparities. He highlighted that the poverty and infant mortality rates for Black residents in Buncombe County are significantly higher than for their white counterparts. Rubin urged the committee to concentrate on these pressing issues rather than opposing DEI efforts.
“How can we get it to be that infant mortality isn’t so different by race across the state?” Rubin asked, emphasizing the need for action to address these disparities.
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