The Death of DEI: A Metaphorical Eulogy

Margaret Spence Founder, The Inclusion Learning Lab

This article is a vital manifesto for change, addressing the urgent need to move beyond the limiting confines of Corporate DEI Programs. As a person of color, I advocate abandoning the exhausting battle for mere scraps of recognition and inclusion within the existing corporate DEI framework.?

It's time to shift our focus from a struggle for mere existence within an untenable system to creating a future that truly reflects our values and aspirations. This piece serves as a clarion call to build new paradigms that genuinely honor and celebrate the rich diversity of individual experiences and identities.?

The persistent corporate platitudes and the external attempts to politicize and dismantle DEI demand a robust and definitive response. We must forge a new vision that transcends the ceaseless battle for inclusion, breaking free from the exhausting cycle of conflict that re-emerges with each generation.?

It is exhausting!

Our energies must be channeled into constructing environments where all are inherently valued, not as an afterthought but as the very essence of our communal and organizational fabric.?

This is our eulogy and manifesto to Corporate DEI Programs—a clarion call from DEI leaders who want to build a different future for the current workforce and the next generation.

Metaphorical Eulogy: The Death of Corporate DEI Programs

Today, we gather not in sorrow but in a solemn recognition of the journey's end for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) as we have known it.

DEI, a beacon of hope and a vision for a fairer workplace, has run its course. It broke barriers and opened dialogues in its heyday, carving spaces for long-silenced voices.

Yet, it leaves behind a legacy of unfulfilled promises and half-realized dreams, a tapestry woven with threads of potential but marred by patches of unyielding resistance. As we lay Corporate DEI programs to rest, we acknowledge its contributions and recognize its limitations – the battles it fought valiantly but could not win, the ceilings it could not shatter.

In this farewell, we are not conceding defeat but acknowledging a truth: the fight for true inclusion demands more than Corporate DEI programs, as they stood, and more than they could ever offer.

We must now venture beyond to forge a path that does not just plead for crumbs of change but demands and creates a whole new vision for equity, equality, and respect.

In this moment of parting, we reflect on the journey DEI has taken us through – a path marked by both triumphs and trials. It challenged norms, questioned long-standing biases, and ignited a conversation reverberating through the halls of corporations and institutions.

Yet, in its noble pursuit, DEI often found itself ensnared in the very structures it aimed to dismantle, its bold vision diluted by token gestures and superficial compliance. It became a ship navigating tumultuous waters, striving to reach a destination that seemed perpetually on the horizon but constantly shifting.

• Article: DEI Programs Were Always Designed to Fail (Read Article at Inclusion Learning Lab)

Continuing the Eulogy to Embrace Change:

As we bid farewell to Corporate DEI programs, we do so with a sense of gratitude for the awareness it raised and the progress it sparked. However, we also acknowledge the hard truth that it could only take us so far.

The journey ahead demands a new paradigm that transcends traditional boundaries and reimagines the fabric of inclusion from the ground up.

We must build on the foundation that DEI laid, yet be unafraid to venture into uncharted territories where inclusion is not just a policy or a program, but a deeply ingrained principle that permeates every aspect of organizational life.

DEI's legacy is not a failure but a clarion call for a more profound transformation. It serves as a reminder that the quest for a truly inclusive society is ongoing, and the responsibility to continue this quest now falls on us. Not the corporations but us, the individuals who will determine what our future should look like.

As we lay DEI to rest, we turn our gaze towards a horizon filled with the promise of a future where diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just aspirations but realities woven into the fabric of our workplaces and communities.

This is not the end of a movement, but the birth of a new era defined by the global majority.

Birthing The New Era of Corporate Workplace Culture:

As we envision the birthing of a new era of workplace culture that transcends the traditional boundaries of Corporate DEI programs, we imagine a future where the intrinsic diversity of each individual is recognized as a fundamental and celebrated aspect of human existence.?

In this envisioned future, the focus shifts from labeling and categorizing to embracing a kaleidoscope of unique perspectives, experiences, and talents driven by inclusion.

The Language of Inclusion in the New Era:

• Instead of centering conversations around "diversity," we speak of "individuality" and "uniqueness." Every person is seen as a distinct tapestry of experiences, abilities, and potential needed everywhere.?
• "Equality" is replaced by "fairness" and "justice," where systems and policies are designed to meet people where they are, acknowledging their unique circumstances, and all systems are created through a lens of equity.
• "Inclusion" becomes "respect," emphasizing a culture where everyone feels intrinsically valued, respected, and an integral part of the entire organization.
• The tapestry to our uniqueness boldly asks, who else needs to be here? Then, we ensure a level playing field for everyone at every level.?

The Utopian Workplace:

• In this new era, workplaces are vibrant communities where each individual's uniqueness contributes to a more prosperous, creative, and innovative environment.
• Decisions are made through the lens of fairness and justice, ensuring that every voice, not just the majority, is heard and valued.
• The success of an organization is measured not just in financial terms but in the positive impact it has on its people and the wider community.
• Respect and empathy are the cornerstones of interpersonal relationships, fostering a culture of trust, mutual value, and support.

This envisioned future is one where the emphasis is on recognizing and celebrating each person as a unique individual with their own story, strengths, and potential.?

It's a world where the term 'diversity' becomes redundant because the uniqueness of each person is a given, and the focus is on creating environments where everyone can thrive and contribute to their fullest potential.

This future is built on an expectation that every part of the organization must have a complete tapestry of representation by age, gender, and identity.?

• Article: What is the Collective Responsibility for DEI? (Read Article at Inclusion Learning Lab)

The Future Workplace Without Explicit DEI Programs:

This envisioned future for the next generation in the workforce is one of boundless potential and inclusivity, where diversity in its truest sense is interwoven into the daily life of an organization. It's a future where the need for labels or specific programs fades away as the principles of fairness, individuality, and belonging become the norm. This is not just a cultural shift but a fundamental reimagining of what it means to be part of a workforce in a rapidly evolving, inclusive, and diverse world.

As we draw this eulogy to a close, let us not linger on what we leave behind but rather look forward with hopeful anticipation to the dawn of a new era.

An era where our workplaces become vibrant ecosystems thriving on the uniqueness of each individual, where the tapestry of our collective existence is woven with the colorful threads of every person's story.

The Eulogy to Corporate DEI Programs Demands A Call to Action:

This is not the end of a journey but the beginning of a more profound and meaningful one. It is a journey where each of us plays a pivotal role in shaping a workplace that does not just tolerate but celebrates the rich diversity of human experience. It's a journey that demands that we stop fighting for the crumbs of inclusion but fully embrace the richness of equal access.

We stand at the threshold of a transformative period in organizational culture, one that beckons us to be pioneers and architects of a future that our predecessors could only dream of.

Our call to action is clear and resounding: Let us embrace this shift with open hearts and minds. Let us commit to being agents of change in our attitudes, actions, and how we interact with one another.

It is up to us to cultivate environments where fairness, understanding, and belonging are not mere ideals but the foundations upon which our organizations operate.

We can be part of a narrative that redefines the workplace for generations to come. Let us seize this moment with courage and determination, knowing that the steps we take today will echo through the annals of time.

Let us build not just for now but for a future where every individual can honestly say, "Here, I belong. Here, I thrive."

So, as we bid farewell to the old paradigms, let us step forward with a unified purpose. Let us be the torchbearers of this new dawn, illuminating a path of inclusivity, respect, and boundless potential.

Together, we can create more than just a workplace; we can create a legacy of unity, empathy, and unwavering commitment to the betterment of all.

In this spirit, let us move forward, inspired, invigorated, and ready to make this vision a tangible reality. The future beckons with open arms; let us answer its call with unwavering resolve and relentless optimism.

Let's see the possibilities that 2024 offers to create workplaces that foster respect and inclusion - and build on potential. This Eulogy doesn't mean the end. It is the beginning of a new battle that we must win.

About Margaret Spence, Founder - The Inclusion Learning Lab

Margaret is a visionary leader and advocate for transformative workplace inclusion. With her extensive experience and passion for inclusivity at work, she has established herself as a catalyst for change in organizational cultures. Her work empowers HR leaders and organizations to create inclusive environments where every individual thrives. Listen to Margaret's podcast, Inclusion Unscripted Live on LinkedIn every Friday at 3 pm EST or on your favorite Podcast App and on YouTube. Visit The Inclusion Learning Lab Immersive Learning and Development Platform for HR and DEI Leaders