'What a disgrace': Outrage erupts as Johns Hopkins diversity chief Sherita Golden labels Whites, males and Christians as 'privileged'

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: An uproar erupted this week over an email from Johns Hopkins Medicine's chief diversity officer, Dr. Sherita Hill Golden, listing groups she defined as 'privileged', per New York Post.

In a monthly 'diversity digest', Golden categorized white people, heterosexuals, cisgender people, males, Christians, English speakers, and other groups as having a set of 'unearned benefits'.  Her comments set off a viral backlash on social media, with many critics voicing outrage and condemnation over the definitions.

Firestorm of controversy erupts over Dr. Sherita Hill Golden's email

A firestorm of controversy has erupted after Dr. Sherita Hill Golden, chief diversity officer at Johns Hopkins Medicine, sent an email defining "privileged" social groups. In her monthly "diversity digest" to all staff, Golden defined privilege as "a set of unearned benefits given to people who are in a specific social group."

She then provided a list of these groups, including: white people, heterosexuals, cisgender people, males, Christians, middle or owning class people, middle-aged people, English speakers, and able-bodied people.

The email immediately sparked outrage on social media once it was leaked publicly. Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, publicly decried the statement on social media, proclaiming, "This must end!"

Former President Donald Trump's son, Donald Trump Jr., also weighed in, condemning the perceived "rot and racism in higher education" institutions, asserting, "It has taken over virtually every institution and needs to end now."

Facing mounting criticism, Dr. Golden has now retracted the definition of privilege and apologized to staff. In a follow-up memo, she wrote: “The newsletter included a definition of the word privilege which, upon reflection, I deeply regret...Because it was overly simplistic and poorly worded, it had the opposite effect. I retract and disavow the definition I shared and I am sorry."

Internet reacts with discontent to Dr. Sherita Hill Golden's divisive categorizations

Internet users were swift to express their discontent upon learning about Dr. Golden's divisive categorizations. One commenter on X (formerly Twitter) called for immediate action, stating, "Fire her immediately. What a disgrace she is. Anti-American, anti-white (those are the people who hired and pay her)."

Another user raised concerns about financial support, stating, "People give millions of dollars to Johns Hopkins in donations, and they must realize what they are enabling. It’s time to reach those who fund them and stop the madness."

On a critical note, a third user expressed dismay, claiming, "John Hopkins is throwing away their legacy of being a respected and honored institution over the DEI movement that history will list as the thing that brought down this venerable institution for promoting racism, and discrimination and too many phobias to mention."

A more humorous take emerged as another person scoffed, saying, "Can’t help but laugh at 'English speaking people'— what? So basically anyone who got through the 5th grade are privileged? They can’t be serious..."

Questioning the logic behind the categorizations, a fifth user remarked, "Middle aged people? So now just being alive makes you an oppressor?" Uncovering broader skepticism, a sixth user expressed disbelief, stating, "DEI is just a rebranded version of the anti-white/anti-west agenda. How it went unchecked for so long still baffles me."

 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.