The Times They Are A Changin'

“We deserve a safe future. And we demand a safe future. Is it really too much to ask?” Greta Thunberg, 2019

The moral dilemma!

Equality, diversity or inclusion? Take your pick – or pick and mix? What is this stuff all about?! And does it even matter?

Yes – it does matter. Not so much what you call it. That’s for others to worry about. But it’s important that you understand what it is – and why you feel it.

I read a fantastic piece recently about empathy and learnt that it derives from the Greek word empatheia meaning passion. Empathy is the ability to understand things from another person’s perspective. Passionate understanding. I like that concept. The word passion apparently comes from the Latin root pati - meaning suffering, or enduring. Passionate understanding of suffering. Is that what empathy is to you?

Passionate understanding of suffering

So – how does this all relate to our good friends equality, diversity and inclusion? Is it all about passion, understanding – or suffering? Or all three? You guessed it – all three of course!

Equality is defined as the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities. Like millions of other people, I saw a fantastic performance in early 2020 by the British grime artist Dave at the Brits Awards. Please check out the video when you get a chance. In the meantime, here’s the opening lyrics:

“Look, black is beautiful, black is excellent

Black is pain, black is joy, black is evident

It's workin' twice as hard as the people you know you're better than

'Cause you need to do double what they do so you can level them”

Dave (aka David Orobosa Omoregie), Black, 2019

This performance – for me – encapsulated the lack of status, rights and opportunities that Dave had experienced as a young black man in the UK in 2019. His song takes us into his head and explores – with passion - the various ways in which this lack of opportunity manifests itself – and the suffering this causes. In this way, he increases my understanding of his plight.

Diversity is defined as the range of human differences, including but not limited to race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, social class, physical ability or attributes, religious or ethical values system, national origin, and political beliefs. I think most people recognise this definition – in its broadest sense. And they can see how people may have suffered in terms of their respective experiences as a black / gay / trans etc person. But where they struggle (in my experience) is the understanding element. And this is often because they start to measure / balance / compare one element of diversity against another. How many times has a manager / leader said to me – “I really want to do something – but I don’t know where to start.” I always say to them “Follow the passion” and tell them to go for the one that either ignites their passion – or ignites the passion of their leaders and influencers within their organisation.

So – finally – on to inclusion. Defined as the action or state of including or of being included within a group or structure. Trickiest one of all this one when it comes to the empathy approach – as this one then bumps into the power element! And power is a critical component of anybody’s journey towards understanding inclusion as it goes to the very core of what often serves to stop inclusion. Power requires someone not just to understand what standing in someone else’s shoes looks and feels like – but also then to agree to that other person either having their shoes – or being allowed to buy the same pair. It requires a sharing – or handing over – of power.

Final word

If we can learn how to work together to better understand each other’s passions, perspectives and suffering, then I believe we will go a long way towards cracking the moral dilemma. As you may have guessed from the two quotes I’ve used already in this article, I also believe that the younger generation have an approach and attitude to these subjects which fill me with hope. But I’ll leave the final word to an old hand – Bob Dylan (aka Robert Allen Zimmerman) – who laid down this challenge in 1964:

“Come mothers and fathers

Throughout the land

And don't criticize

What you can't understand

Your sons and your daughters

Are beyond your command

Your old road is rapidly agin'

Please get out of the new one

If you can't lend your hand

For the times they are a-changin'”

Bob Dylan, Times They Are A Changin’, 1964