An Optimist’s Guide to DEI

When I first saw the legislative and critical attacks on DEI, I was frustrated and confused.? I could not understand why the work that I have dedicated my life to was coming under attack.? Then I began to read the laws and critiques and I breathed a sigh of relief.? I realized that the attacks and the laws being introduced were bred out of misrepresentations and sensationalized ideas of what Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) is.?

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Some may ask, why does this matter so much to me.? My DEI journey started long ago as a kid with a simple question- ‘why?.’ I would constantly ask my mother why things were and she would do her best to answer- until all her answers were exhausted and she would say ‘because God made it so.’ Satisfied, I would move onto my next inquiry.? I’ve always had a natural curiosity and my commitment to diversity is grounded in my faith. In the Holy Quran (49:13), God says he ‘created you from a single pair and made you into nations and tribes so that you could know one another, not despise each other.’ I’ve been trying to get to know people ever since.

I am now a middle-aged Black man who works as a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant. ?I have done this work in higher education and with corporations for nearly 25 years.? I began this work formally in one of my first professional roles and worked in a multicultural center as a graduate student.? The truth is, however, that I have been around this work and learning about DEI all my life.? My parents were children of the Civil Rights movement and made sure that we were aware of the history of Black people in the US.? I was able to connect with and learn from people from many different cultures growing up and I benefited from a number of programs designed to provide access to education for minoritized people.? I’m also a first-generation college graduate who went on to earn a PhD by researching multicultural competence. My degree was earned and my publications are few, but they are sound.? I don’t expect to get accused of plagiarism by billionaires in glass houses who are funding anti-DEI work, these architects of ignorance. However; it is essential that I share the lens from which I observe this debate.?

These ‘anti-DEI’ laws that I reference contain language encouraging ‘diversity of thought.’ The inherent assumption in this is that DEI programs teach people to think alike and not think critically. These laws also spoke of banning DEI because it teaches ‘divisive ideas’.? This language and their arguments against DEI made me think that these legislators need DEI training as much as anyone- but Congress got rid of that office too. We have devolved from the era of ‘hope’ to the era of ‘nope’.? No longer are we aspiring to be a more perfect union; it seems we are focusing more in disunity.? Politics represent some of this.? We have seen voting become more and more restricted by ‘conservative’ politicians.? We have seen much more gerrymandering to keep Republican politicians in office and as a result, we have seen a systemic destruction of policies that were designed to give all Americans some more equal footing in their pursuit of happiness and capital.?

I also realized that these efforts were a continuation of the past few years of assaults on Critical Race Theory, Antiracism, and the 1619 Project.? There has been serious pushback against these movements because they provide an alternative to the mainstream historical stories of the United States.? Their critics don’t like this and seem to think that multiple perspectives on history might undermine their grievance grift and disrupt their expected social norms.? This realization also gave me relief.? The anti-DEI efforts are part of a larger culture war that posits that diverse stories may empower and spark curiosity about our neighbors and colleagues.? Much like segregation laws did not actually keep people from interacting, efforts to stifle DEI work will not keep people from being curious.? In this age of information and AI, people have more access to historical documents and stories than ever and they will continue to be interested in learning about this unique shared history that we have all been deprived of.? Surveys nationwide indicate support for DEI- the confusion that is being spewed is mucking the waters, but the future is still clear.? More diversity, better understanding and more connections will help us thrive as a nation.?

Recently, my accountability partners asked me why did I still have optimism about DEI in light of the current actions. They believe in DEI but consider themselves ‘realists’ about these legislative efforts. My optimism stems from my belief in people and my understanding of history and politics. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said ‘the arc of the moral universe bends towards justice’ and Frederick Douglass said that ‘power concedes nothing without demand.’ I agree with both of these sentiments and I think DEI efforts are both a demand and an agreement that bending towards justice doesn’t happen out of the goodness of people’s hearts. The people must demand it and they seem to be doing so in the free market of ideas and industry. There a thousands of people in DEI roles who do this work. Hundreds of companies and organizations support DEI work and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon, in spite of this political pushback.

I’m optimistic because the US is more diverse than ever and equitable access to jobs, education, career and life aspirations is what keeps this country going. Fear that these opportunities will be lost is what divides us. Politicians pushing this fear are holding on for a last-ditch effort to stay in power and hoping that people don’t see behind the curtain of their confusion.

?Many folks learn about our diverse history through DEI trainings, writings, and speakers and respond with a Tony Baker-like ‘I never knew!’ and they want to continue to learn.? This is why I’m optimistic about the future of DEI.? That natural curiosity that people have, will always win out.? No matter what laws are put into place to ban books and ideas.? Those efforts are futile and the increasing diversity of the United States continues to prove that.? People with limiting ideas about who we can be, celebrate these bans as patriotic while ironically ignoring the First Amendment implications of banning certain speech and ideas related to DEI.? I’m optimistic about the future of DEI because these bans are only targeting state money spent at colleges and universities- it is not stopping the ideas and the community programs and the private companies and media entities from teaching this work and introducing these ideas to people.? These bans can’t stop the most important factor in people becoming more aware of diverse perspectives- the desire to learn more about oneself and others.

In my research on multicultural competence – the desire to learn was the most important factor in a person’s likelihood to be more multiculturally competent.? A person’s demographics, place of origin, racial identity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, educational background were irrelevant to multicultural competence- none of those factors mattered as much as their desire to learn.? Laws and critics will not stop this desire to learn- if anything, these ‘anti-DEI’ efforts are bringing more attention the fields of DEI, Antiracism, and Critical Race theory.? They are the best marketing tools out there and as much as they may want to, these laws can’t stop the progress of humanity.? So I encourage you to keep on!

Keep reading banned books

Keep taking courses on diversity and inclusion

Keep learning more about yourself and others

Keep questioning the narratives about who we should be

Keep giving each other grace as we learn together

Keep living by the platinum rule

Keep inviting DEI speakers to your events

Keep writing and calling your state and national legislators

Keep co-sponsoring programs and events that highlight diversity

Keep hosting interfaith programs and celebrating diverse holidays

Keep promoting heritage months and days of remembrance

Keep reading diverse authors and researchers

Keep listening to the stories of people who have been marginalized

Keep donating to and supporting foundations and organizations that are promoting diverse perspectives

Keep sponsoring ERGs and diverse programs

Keep recruiting diverse students and employees

Keep giving each other grace as we learn together

And most of all, stay curious my friends!

What else can we keep doing to promote DEI?

#DEI #CRT #DIVERSITY #EQUITY #INCLUSION