Commit to diversity...in your life
It's Black History Month and if your experience has been anything like mine for the past few years, are you even enjoying it? Every year BHM becomes the launching point for companies to express their most 'sincere' interests in the history and advancement of Black people in America. Of course those efforts are tied to a product line to generate revenue while they are at it. It's not any different than the LGBTQIA+ Pride Month efforts. However, in true American fashion there's always more outrage for the disregard and mistreatment of any marginalized group that isn't comprised of Black people. Sprinkle in the uptick of requests for Black people to work for lower than the median rate (and often for free) to represent those companies and initiatives in campaigns and on panels, because exploitation of Black talent is never off the table. It's exhausting! All of the discussion around diversity in the workplace and the 'efforts' being made to ensure that leadership teams represent a fair and equitable reflection of the workplace are still happening year after year with very little progress to show for. The false narrative that finding talented and experienced Black people is so daunting, is actually harmful and insulting. I challenge us all to take a different approach, start with yourself. Take a close look at your life and ask yourself whether or not the people you surround yourself with represent the diversity of your neighborhood or the aspirational diversity goals that you are hoping to see at your workplace.
The truth is, real diversity starts in each of our lives before it can ever truly be realized in the workplace. If you are not personally surrounding yourself with people from a variety of backgrounds including race, ethnicity, age, and so on that you respect and admire then it is quite difficult to expect that you can just turn on your respect and admiration when a Black person earns and is operating in a position of power. The lack of having that experience first on a personal level, makes it so much easier for you to dismiss that persons qualifications or simply reduce them to a representative of a diversity initiative. Consider that the lack effort to learn about different cultures outside of work, translates into the workplace. It's the reason why there is the persistent questioning of a black persons qualifications that simply does not happen for white people. We all play a role that can unfortunately be our blind spot. Varied experiences and acquaintances, friendships even, are the hallmark of someone who is committed to being a well-rounded human being that has interest and respect for all mankind. Being an ally is not possible if it doesn't matter to you outside of being directly tied to how you earn a living.
It's impossible to create a culture that will foster diversity, while inviting people into a space where no work has been done. The workplace is not the space to learn the basics of other cultures. It's not the singular Black person's job to teach you and your colleagues the basics of Black culture or even the nuances of Black culture; just imagine to pressure and discomfort that comes along with that expectation. It's always good practice to picture yourself in someone else's shoes to truly understand the gravity of what they are being asked to do. No one is hired into a leadership role and then expected to learn the basics of the department, its' purpose, and what it will take to achieve success. They are only eligible to lead once they have demonstrated mastery of at least the basic concepts. Why isn't the same level of effort expected from each of us as we elect to enter spaces that are filled with people from a multitude of diverse backgrounds? Hold yourself accountable to learn about others in your daily life. Hold space for learning from one another while also investing the time to develop a broader spectrum of relationships in your personal life.
We're all narrow-minded in our own ways, but those of the majority in any environment have to start demonstrating they care through learning and exploration, not performative nonsense and enlightened chatter using media buzz words. To truly foster a diverse workplace requires a personal commitment before a professional one ever has the chance to succeed. Actions will always demonstrate your true intentions. Excuses are just that and if you are unwilling to expect excuses for performance then you should keep the same energy for representation.
*Written in the big chair from a Black perspective. I would imagine you could easily swap out Black for any marginalized group and the message remains intact.