Be critical: Is DEI good or evil?
SeungHee Lee
Associate Professor, Art and Design, University of Tsukuba.
Her main research fields are “Kansei” (affective informatics) and design.
A Korean resident in Japan.
Rasel Ahmed
Assistant Professor, Theatre, Film, and Media Arts, The Ohio State University.
Filmmaker. An immigrant to the U.S. from Bangladesh.
Students from Lee’s Lab
Max (half Japanese, half Dutch)
Alvin (half Chinese, half Indonesian)
The four people appearing in this video series are members of social minorities and are individuals with hybrid identities, combining multiple cultural and personal backgrounds.
The talk session is conducted in a Q&A format, where students pose questions and the faculty respond. After brief self-introductions, the first question comes from Max. Prof. Rasel’s response here is crucial for understanding the entire series. Before moving forward, listen carefully to his answer, which is grounded in historical context.
Historical Context
In May 2020, the killing of George Floyd by a police officer sparked nationwide protests and gave rise to the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement across the United States.
In the aftermath, corporations and educational institutions strengthened their efforts around Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).
However, in 2024, the Trump administration abolished federal DEI programs, citing “reverse discrimination” against white people as the reason for cutting government support. By 2025, researchers began avoiding DEI-related terminology, and backlash against DEI has been growing.
DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion)
A concept emphasizing respect for diversity and the creation of inclusive environments that embrace all individuals within organizations and society. Alongside the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), it is considered a key element in achieving a society where no one is left behind.
Talk session with Prof. Rasel, Lee and Students
- Is DEI good or evil?
- Does Exclusion exists?
- Prof. Rasel and the Making of Film
- Should Children Learn about Exclusion?
- Pros and Cons of AI
- Prof. Lee’s story and the Film
”Today, we are all foreigners in Japanese society, but anybody can be minolity”
Seunghee Lee
Related Post:
Prof. Rasel Ahmed of OSU visits UT Held Talk Session with Prof. Lee Seung Hee