WHAT HAS CHANGED SINCE GEORGE FLOYD’S DEATH?

Three years have passed since the tragic death of George Floyd, yet the wounds of his killing continue to linger in the hearts of millions worldwide. While his death sparked a global movement for racial justice and equality, it is disheartening to see that the progress towards achieving diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice remains painfully slow. Despite the outpouring of support and promises of change, systemic racism and inequality continue to be pervasive in all aspects of society. Since his death, and the tragic deaths of many others, especially in BIPOC communities, we still need more progress in diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.

Challenges Remain

One of the key challenges in achieving DEI is the lack of accountability for those in power. We witnessed clear examples of police brutality, yet it took a global movement and mass protests to secure a guilty verdict against the former Minneapolis police officer and fellow officers responsible for Floyd's death. The fact that it took such an extraordinary effort to hold one person accountable for their actions is a stark reminder of the lack of accountability for systemic racism and inequality in all aspects of society.

This lack of responsibility is further reflected in the persistent disparities in wealth, education, health, and housing, to name a few areas. For instance, data shows that Black and Brown people are still disproportionately affected by poverty, with the poverty rate for Black Americans being more than double that of white Americans.?

Similarly, disparities in education with Black and Brown students facing disproportionate disciplinary actions and receiving less funding for their schools. Health care inequalities continue to persist, while Black Americans are more likely to die from preventable illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

Here is a recent study by Kaiser Family Foundation, ‘Disparities in Health and Health Care: Five Key Questions and Answers’ that reflect the entrenched systemic behaviors and how continuing to address equity in the fabric of our American policies and laws remain critical to the future of our overall health and economic success.

Moreover, housing discrimination and redlining persists in BIPOC communities where people are facing higher barriers to homeownership and living in segregated communities. Add to that food deserts, insufficient and sometimes ineffective clean water access has hampered the quality of life in these areas.?

This lack of accountability for systemic racism is reflected in the dearth of progress towards achieving DEI in workplaces, where diversity and inclusion initiatives often fail to address the root causes of systemic inequality. The loud cry for change after Floyd’s death was met by some companies vowing to make aggressive improvements in their DEI corporate policies. What has happened since??

Where is the hype now?

Diversity roles are slowly disappearing.

Corporate pledges fizzle and layoffs abound.

Another challenge in achieving DEI is the lack of understanding and empathy towards BIPOC communities. The history of racism and inequality in America is frequently glossed over or ignored, with some politicians and citizens determined to erase history or assert its damaging truths are too unbearable to accept. This lack of understanding and acceptance is often reinforced in some extreme media outlets perpetuating negative stereotypes.?

Warning: If you don’t know what ‘woke or woke culture’ means or how it got its meaning, educate yourself before co-opting or lambasting its use.?

Furthermore, the lack of or slowing progress towards achieving DEI is still fueled by the prevalence of implicit bias and discrimination in all aspects of society. Implicit bias refers to the unconscious attitudes and beliefs that people hold towards others based on their race, gender, sexuality, and other characteristics. While implicit bias is often unintentional, it can have a significant impact on how people interact with others and can reinforce systemic inequality.

Achieving diversity, equity, inclusion, access, and justice* requires a concerted effort to address the root causes of systemic inequality and to hold those in power accountable for their actions. It also requires a greater understanding and empathy towards BIPOC communities and a commitment to eradicating bias and discrimination in all places and spaces.

*DEIA or JEDI

But let justice roll down like waters,

??and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Amos 5:24

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Vanessa’s ‘Managing a Diverse Team’ LinkedIn Learning course link: