The far-left Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) New York City chapter (NYC-DSA) has proposed a resolution to boost the organization’s diversity.
The Proposed Resolution.
According to the New York Post, NYC-DSA has proposed a “Task Force to Promote Equitable Organizing Culture,” also referred to as an “Anti-Oppression Task Force,” to diversify the chapter following fears that it does not sufficiently reflect the demographics of New York City.
“DSA has historically faced well-documented challenges recruiting and retaining people of color, and NYC-DSA’s racial makeup does not reflect the racial diversity of our city,” reads the proposed resolution.
The proposed task force would aim to “dismantle oppressive systems and combat oppressive practices in the chapter” and grow support for the DSA “among the multiracial, multigendered working class” of the city.
“It is incumbent on NYC-DSA’s leadership to proactively learn about oppressive systems and behaviors, how to dismantle and combat them within the organization, and how to construct an equitable culture that advances our goals of organizing the multiracial, multigendered working class; as well as supporting the full membership to learn about these topics and enact these goals,” reads the proposed resolution.
The DSA and Diversity.
This proposal represents another front in the DSA’s ongoing internal struggle regarding the organization’s diversity.
According to a DSA membership survey conducted last year, 66 percent of the organization’s members are white. This followed the DSA’s comprehensive membership survey from 2021, which revealed that 80 percent of members hold a bachelor’s degree, 56 percent work in white-collar occupations, and 28 percent earn more than $100,000 a year. In contrast, 57 percent of Americans are non-Hispanic white, 38 percent have a bachelor’s degree, and 18 percent earn at least $100,000 a year.
For NYC-DSA specifically, according to its own membership survey, 60 percent of members are white, 14 percent are Hispanic, 12 percent are Jewish, nine percent are black, ten percent are Asian, five percent are South Asian, four percent are Middle Eastern, two percent are Native American, and less than one percent are Pacific Islander. According to City & State NY, 63 percent of NYC-DSA members completed the optional survey.
In contrast, 34 percent of New Yorkers are white, while 29 percent are Hispanic, 22 percent are black, and 15 percent are Asian.
The proposal comes ahead of NYC-DSA’s city convention, which will take place on Saturday.
