NAACP Denounces AT&T’s Decision to Backtrack on DEI Commitments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2025
Contact: Chyna Fields, cfields@naacpnet.org
NAACP President & CEO: "DEI is not a trend or a talking point; it is a core principle of fairness…"
WASHINGTON — Today, the NAACP has sent a formal letter to AT&T denouncing its decision to discontinue its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. The move, which follows a nationwide trend of corporate reversal of commitments to diverse communities, reveals a troubling shift for the telecommunications leader.
The letter underscores that AT&T, a company with significant reach and influence, has both a responsibility and an opportunity to uphold equitable access and inclusive practices — not only for their workforce but for their consumer base.
Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO, shared the following statement:
"Discontinuing diversity, equity, and inclusion programs is not just a step backward, it sends the wrong message about whose voices and contributions are valued. Corporations benefit every day from the purchasing power of Black consumers and the strength of a diverse workforce. AT&T has a responsibility and an opportunity to lead by example by ensuring equitable access, representation, and inclusion for its employees and the communities they serve. DEI is not a trend or a talking point. DEI is a core principle of fairness, accountability, and good corporate governance."
The letter also includes key research, covering the following topics, on the importance of DEI:
- Stronger performance and innovation
- Leadership diversity drives value creation
- Innovation from diverse teams
- Reduced risk and improved stability
- Employee retention and engagement
- High reliance on mobile/smartphone access among minorities
- Digital divide remains real for broadband access
- Smartphone-based access often substitutes for home broadband
The letter also highlights broader concerns about the long-term implications of abandoning DEI initiatives, particularly at a time when communities of color continue to face systemic barriers to opportunity. The NAACP will continue to advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion and urges AT&T to reconsider their decision. The full letter can be accessed here.
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About NAACP
The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st-century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.
NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund – also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.