Demonizing DEI

In my last newsletter, I spoke of obstacles taking us backward: banning books on race in local libraries and schools…challenges to race-conscious admissions that support diversity, equity and inclusion on college and university campuses…government creating laws that prohibit DE&I training in corporate settings.

It hasn’t stopped: another state has proposed legislation banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public colleges and universities…and a state has imposed a restriction of a POEM.

Our work is being dismantled right before our eyes, under the guise of merit-based approaches that assume that people are not qualified because of the color of their skin.

The work we do supports a pipeline of people prepared to succeed in Corporate America. If colleges and universities, high schools, libraries—everything that educates our future Black, Brown AND White leaders—sanitizes our history, how will this affect the future of our business communities?

If we’ve learned anything from this work we do, it’s that efforts to address inequity within the corporate landscape face roadblocks from those who are engrained with the fear that power is being taken away. The issues happening now have a direct correlation to growing inclusive talent and diverse thought. It is imperative business leaders understand this.

Be well,