Coming Next to the Stage...

TL;DR There are levels to this, and these levels need to at some point be shown on stage.

My spirit is still buzzing from the energy I received this past Friday. The One Club for Creativity 's Where Are All the Black People returned in real life for the first time since 2019. Incidentally, that day in 2019 was when 100 Roses From Concrete was born—the 3rd anniversary celebration is coming soon, but I digress. I saw so many people for the first time in a long time or the first time ever. My heart is full, and when my heart is full, I'm immediately ready to be on one.

Speaking of being on one...

Upon walking in, I should've known because as I received my blank tag to complete in Sharpie, a couple of attendees were trying to figure out what to put in the I am a... slot. One of them asked me what they were supposed to put there, and I proudly stated, "Whatever you want... So many people put their skill or role there, but it's meant to be open."

As you can see from the picture above, I chose the open route; however, as the day progressed, the way I described who I am proved to be more than a conversation starter but a moment of clarity. As a result, not only is my heart full, but my purpose has been reborn. I consider myself a brandarchist, for goodness sake.

But, my purpose notwithstanding, I was there to meet people and see some friends on that stage. These friends are people with whom I have conversations about the state of the industry all of the time, and these conversations can become spicy. So, let's fast-forward to the closing panel of the event. Heh heh heh...

You can see the names of three of my PEOPLE on this stage under a question that we all could have or have predicted years ago. Yet, since things have not changed enough, we cannot let this subject matter disappear. Plus, my PEOPLE Destiny K. Chambers , Keni Thacker , and Kai Deveraux Lawson were gonna be talking (I only leave Nate Nichols out because we don't know each other that well, I've broke bread several times with the other three), so I knew the conversation was going to be as real as it could be on THAT stage in the allotted 60-minutes of time. I'm mentioning these limits for a reason.

Please note: thankfully, this panel session was not one of simple commiseration but of reflection and identification. Reflection and identifications of what happened in 2020 and the response?intended?to create change, and this stage had 4 people who have been and continue to push for change. Of course, my bruv Keni bet representatives of the companies in attendance that if they were intentional about the change they promised, they could start by hiring at least 20% of the Black people they met at this year's conference because that's what Keni do—yes there was applause, and I think that moment may have been the catalyst of a subsequent post-panel conversation.

So, what happened?

As the lines formed for the panelists, my ears perked to a question posed to Destiny, and I swear she knew I was listening. The question had layers (my favorite type of question) and was framed around the actual intent at these companies and whether or not the systems in place want or will allow these changes to occur. Furthermore, one of the objectives connected to the question was the desire to have that specific aspect of the conversation on stage at these types of events—something with which I agree, but here is where the levels and expectations come in.

I am more than aware that when it comes to so many diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging conversations, it feels as if we have had the same ad nauseum, which is not entirely untrue. Yet still, there are levels of balance that must exist within the entire environment of all that's happening here. From systems built to keep people down all the way to people feeling safe enough to bring their whole selves to work, many nuances exist regarding what is being felt and what needs to happen. For example:

One of the in-panel audience questions was about a young lady concerned about her co-workers or supervisors dimming her light more so as a person than as someone who works at an agency. Obviously, this concern is 100% valid. Yet still, after the panel, I asked her if I could give her some advice, and when she said yes, I suggested that she first determines who does and does not deserve her light. But, of course, interpersonal relationships also have levels. Levels. But back to the larger question about systems and intent.

If you know me, you know I prefer deeper conversations, but only when the baseline is appropriately set. Once again, yes, we continue to have conversations about the proverbial top of the DEI&B funnel and need to go further, but even these top-level discussions come from different angles. We must link properly to the most critical points of the top-level discourse for the deeper ones to land correctly. This is not easy, but it's definitely easier than one may think. The hard part is courage—mainly on the short-term ledger sheet—that it may take.

In addition, if you know me, I'm never going to be the one to put pressure on those most negatively affected to force total change. One of the solutions presented by the initial inquirer was along those lines quoting power structures in terms of empirical numbers. However, especially in this society, why do people who already force change as a mode of survival need to be solely responsible? Why must people who are already not winning risk more than those who already have and probably would still have too much? What are YOU doing to force change rather than asking what else we can do to create change? Levels.

I think I've waxed poetic long enough on this article for the time being, but before I go, I would like to challenge these companies and events to hold part 2 (and 3, and 4, etc.) of this conversation and put it on stage. I know every step of the ultimate solution doesn't have to be seen at these tentpole events. However, these presentations around real change do need transparency to gain grace and trust via transparency. There are levels to everything, namely things that are truly meaningful.

Take that witcha...