Screenshot / YouTube, MSNBC, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott brushed off the moniker “DEI Mayor,” bestowed upon him by critics amidst the aftermath of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse.

A post on X referred to Scott by the controversial nickname beneath a clip of the mayor addressing the media following the bridge incident.

Despite the platform issuing a “community note” to correct the narrative, emphasizing Scott's landslide victory with over 70% of the vote, the post still managed to amass over 25 million views.

MSNBC host Joy Reid highlighted Scott's overwhelming election in a predominantly Black city, quipping, “So by right-wing logic, a ‘diversity hire’ would have been a white man.”

Scott, in response to Reid, emphasized the historical context of Black men being vilified by racists throughout American history.

“We've been the bogeyman for them since the first day they brought us to this country,” Scott told Reid during an interview this week. He continued, asserting his interpretation of DEI as “duly elected incumbent,” and condemned those who hide behind coded language rather than openly expressing racism.

“We know what they want to say,” Scott continued, “but they don’t have the courage to say the N-word, and the fact that I don’t believe in their untruthful and wrong ideology.”

“I am very proud of my heritage and who I am and where I come from, scares them,” the mayor added, “because me being at my position means that their way of thinking, their way of life of being comfortable while everyone else suffers is going to be at risk, and they should be afraid because that’s my purpose in life.”

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DEI initiatives, aimed at bolstering representation of underrepresented ethnic groups in the workforce, have faced criticism across various states, with opponents arguing they promote reverse discrimination. Some have cynically dubbed DEI as 'Didn't Earn It,' but Scott counters.

The tragic collapse of the bridge, claiming six lives, is believed to have occurred due to a “complete blackout” experienced by the 980-feet container ship as it approached the structure, rendering steering impossible.

Some Republicans, including Utah state Rep Phil Lyman, attributed blame for the disaster to DEI considerations, citing the appointment of Karenthia Barber to the Port of Baltimore's commission.