Imagine if you will a racist program coming into Iowa denigrating people of a certain skin color. And instead of Iowa state agencies, businesses and organizations rising up against that program, certain state agencies, businesses and organizations actually support it! Welcome to the 21 Day Equity Challenge.
The 21 Day Equity Challenge was created by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr.; Moore also created and currently directs the White Privilege Conference. In the Fall of 2020, the United Way of Central Iowa was the main sponsor in bringing the 21 Day Equity Challenge into Iowa. As the United Way’s website explained, this was a program “to help our community develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and community.” However, according to Dr. Eddie Moore’s website, the focus of the 21 Day Equity Challenge was on understanding “white privilege” and “white supremacy.”
You can go to the 21 Day Equity Program website to see the “more than 500 organizations” (Iowa governmental agencies, counties, cities, schools/universities, businesses, and social groups) supporting that program.
I subsequently researched and wrote a report about both the 21 Day Equity Challenge and the affiliated White Privilege Conference. In this report, I documented the pervasive anti-White bias and anti-White rhetoric found in both of Moore’s programs.
I sent copies of my report by certified mail to the below-listed supporters of the 21 Day Equity Challenge; the date shown is the date of delivery. In my cover letter, I asked if the organization was aware of the anti-White bias and anti-White rhetoric in the 21 Day Equity Challenge and White Privilege Conference before the decision was made to support the Equity Challenge?
Dave Austin, Chair of the Board of Directors, Living History Farms – March 19, 2021
Kim Bakey, CEO, Iowa Realty – March 19, 2021
Major General Benjamin J. Correll, Adjutant General, Iowa National Guard – March 19, 2021
Nora Everett, Board Chair, United Way of Central Iowa – March 23, 2021
Interim Director Kelly Garcia, Iowa Department of Public Health – March 22, 2021
Angela Jackson, Commission Chair, Iowa Civil Rights Commission – March 23, 2021
Darren Rebelez, CEO, Casey’s General Stores – March 19, 2021
Matt Strawn, CEO, Iowa Lottery Authority – March 23, 2021
Because the Des Moines Register is at the forefront when it comes to decrying racism, I also sent a copy of my report by certified mail to Carol Hunter, the Executive Director (March 24, 2021).
As of May 2, 2021, I have not received a response from any of the above recipients of my report.
So I have two questions for all the supporters of the 21 Day Equity Challenge:
If you acquiesce in the racist bias and rhetoric against whites found in the 21 Day Equity Challenge, then how can you claim to have the moral standing to disapprove of racist bias and rhetoric against other races? I think that all racial discrimination is wrong.
Don’t you?
Dr. Stephen M. Kirby is the author of six books about Islam. His latest book is Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials.
- https://www.eddiemoorejr.com/21daychallenge
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https://www.unitedwaydm.org/equity-challenge-supporters. Among the supporters is the City of Indianola; see my article “Why Does Indianola Support a Racist Program?”, The Iowa Standard, March 31, 2021, https://theiowastandard.com/why-does-indianola-support-a-racist-program/.
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Stephen M. Kirby, The 21 Day Equity Challenge and the White Privilege Conference, March 6, 2021, https://islamseries.files.wordpress.com/2021/03/the-21-day-equity-challenge-and-the-white-privilege-conference.pdf.
Author: Steve Kirby
Dr. Stephen M. Kirby is the author of six books about Islam. His latest book is Islamic Doctrine versus the U.S. Constitution: The Dilemma for Muslim Public Officials. He is also the Chair for the Warren County Republicans. The views expressed here are his own.
