Dr. Tabia Lee, a former equity director at De Anza College in California, has filed a lawsuit claiming she was unfairly dismissed after raising concerns about the institution's inclusion policies. Lee alleges she was labeled a "White supremacist" and accused of "Whitesplaining" for questioning practices that she felt excluded certain minority groups, including White members of the LGBTQ+ community and Jewish individuals.
In an interview, Lee explained that her role was to facilitate institution-wide transformation regarding equity, social justice, and multicultural education. She emphasized her approach of fostering open dialogue and critical thinking to identify and address the needs of the college community. However, she claims her efforts were met with resistance and accusations of being uncooperative.
Universities across the country have been increasingly focused on incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. Lee's lawsuit, filed with the assistance of the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism (FAIR), alleges that De Anza College fostered a hostile work environment and ultimately terminated her employment for not adhering to a specific ideological viewpoint. The suit claims she was deemed "not the right type of Black person" due to her questioning of what she perceived as an extreme critical race theory agenda.
Lee contends that her concerns about the exclusion of certain groups from the college's "anti-racist" mission were dismissed. She also alleges that her attempts to promote tolerance and inclusivity were met with accusations of "White talking" and attempts to "whitewash" the Office of Equity. The lawsuit states that she was told individuals who didn't fit a particular definition were not welcome in the Office of Equity. Additionally, Lee claims her efforts to raise awareness about antisemitism and Holocaust education were rebuffed as not aligning with the college's focus.
Lee maintains that her dismissal does not reflect her work as an educator or the collaborative relationships she built with colleagues and community partners. A letter obtained by Inside Higher Ed cited Lee's "persistent inability to demonstrate cooperation" and "unwillingness to accept constructive criticism" as reasons for her termination. However, Lee believes her firing was retaliatory after she formally complained about the alleged discriminatory treatment.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, Foothill-De Anza Community College District affirmed that all faculty members have "comprehensive due process and appeal rights." The university did not provide further comment on Lee's specific case.
