The more things change, the more they stay the same—and we have to finally break out of that cycle. Recently, the nation's discourse has been overtaken by a divisive conversation about the role of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs in our workplaces and institutions. As leaders in a law firm that has been recognized nationally for our 65-plus-year commitment to making our firm and the legal profession more inclusive, we are compelled to speak out both to correct the pervasive misinformation about DEI programs and to publicly double down on our commitment to making the legal profession, and the communities where our employees live and work, better places.

Efforts to increase racial diversity in the workplace have been underway in this country for as long as our law firm has existed. DEI initiatives as we understand them today began in the 1960s as a byproduct of the Civil Rights Movement, with the implementation of various policies following the passage of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Equal Pay Act of 1963, which addressed discriminatory labor practices.