What It Means To Be Inclusive & Equitable

With the increased spotlight on anti-racism and anti-oppression in this country, I’ve been thinking a lot about inclusion and equity lately. As a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practitioner with more than 15 years experience supporting individuals and organizations on how to lean into being more diverse, inclusive, and equitable, I couldn’t help but ponder what are we all doing to support the Black Lives Matter movement, but also all of humanity who have been oppressed in our society.

When we say Black lives matter - which they absolutely do - are we unconsciously, or consciously excluding Black Trans, Black Queers, or any other LGBTQ identity? And even if we are not overtly acting in opposition with these identities are we working intentionally to include the voices of those Black lives? To understand how the intersectionality of being Black and having a LGBTQ identity makes life more challenging?

What about people with a mixed race identity? Individuals whose skin and features may represent a more Eurocentric look? If they claim a Black identity, do we accept them as our own? Do we work to include them in the struggle for Black liberation?

What about Black indigenous people of color (BIPOC)? Have we thought about the struggles that may come from having that identity? How many of them have been subjected to deportation at an astronomical rate? Have we taken on the anti-deportation cause, not just for their sake, but for the sake of our Latinx sisters and brothers? Have we considered how those intersectional identities have a similar, but different lived experience as our own? 

And I’d be remiss if I didn't talk about religion. In America, for example, Christianity reigns. Anyone who doesn’t subscribe to this ideology often feel ostracized, especially if you’re part of the Muslim faith. Do we work to include these perspectives, to understand how religion can be a tool of oppression against so many, including women? 

The point I’m trying to make is that oftentimes we get so focused on our issue that we totally miss the ways we are not being inclusive and equitable ourselves; how we have also become the oppressor towards identities that are not our own. As we work to create a better world for Black people, let’s also work to create a better world for everyone who has been oppressed in this country. Let’s examine ourselves and hold ourselves accountable for the world we want for ourselves. Social justice means that any issue that exists that strips people of the inherent right to be who they are, to love who they love, and to have what they need to care for themselves and their loved ones, is injustice for us all. 

There are countless other identities that are oppressed in this country that I won't get into not because those identities aren't important, but simply for the sake of time. I’m simply inviting us to ponder on the diversity of the world, how we acknowledge this diversity, embrace this diversity, understand this diversity, and work to support this diversity. 

As a Black woman, with a multitude of identities, I'm not interested in people accepting me for my identities alone. I’m interested in people willing to face the dark truths about themselves. People who are interested in the struggles of other oppressed groups. People willing to learn and change in real time. I’m interested in people who are actively working to change the systems of oppression. I want accomplices and allies. People who are on the front lines, doing the work, holding themselves and people in their lives accountable for being oppressive, using their influence in any way they can to push, not just the Black agenda, but the humanity agenda forward. 

That’s why the Be Well Beautiful Woman Healing Into Power Series that is happening on July 8-16 is for all Black people (women, men, and non-conforming gender). One of the sessions I’ll be leading is called When the Oppressed Become The Oppressor to help us explore the very issues I’ve raised in this blog post. We also have powerful healers and activists on the line-up like Dianne Bondy, Yoga for All Movement, Dr. Ardre Orie, The Queen of Storytelling, Dr. Zhaleh Boyd Phillips, Ancestral Healing Goddess, and more, to help us heal, have more joy, and to live in the spirit given power we were born with. Registration is open now! To see our entire line up keep scrolling. Secure your FREE spot now here and please share with every Black person you have in your life. It is going to be nothing short of sacred y’all. 

In peace, love, power, and justice,

Demarra West

Founder