Why All the Backlash to DEI?
"Make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
It is always amazing to me how words can be weaponized. Where phrases that can be so innocuous on their face can be turned into symbols of division, anger, and hate. Mention the phrase "DEI" to five different people - a phrase, mind you, that most people hadn't heard of ten years ago - and you'll get five different answers on what it is. And for most of those people, those answers are coming from people who oppose diversity, equity, and inclusion. "DEI is unfair. It's discriminatory. It's racist. It's divisive. It's unAmerican. It's wrong."
But here's the thing. If you actually explain what diversity, equity, and inclusion is about without being tied to a lightning rod of a phrase, you'll get a different response. You'll get head nods. You'll get affirmations. You'll get, "Oh, I do agree with that." You'll also get discussion. "I don't agree with that; here's how I see it." You'll also get criticism. "Here's why this doesn't work here." You'll find out that it's easiest to agree on "inclusion." Harder to agree on "diversity." The biggest pushback is "equity." And the conversation will always circle back to affirmative action. But, either way, you'll now have a dialogue and can find solutions that work best for your organization.
The problem is that it takes a lot longer to do all of that then it does to say the phrase "DEI." And most people aren't spending the time listening.
So, this post isn't about those who have set the narrative that DEI is wrong. I understand why they have done so. Instead, this post is about those who are listening to them.
If you believe in the work of inclusion - and if you read my newsletter, I know you do - then we need to change the narrative. We need to write a better one. Watch my video below. This is how I start. By talking about stadiums.
(P.S. I recorded this the morning of the Detroit Lions' magical Thursday night victory. 4th and 1, baby! Always take risks)
Do the work
This week, I commit to learning what precisely it is about the phrase "DEI" that people I work with, live with, or collaborate with oppose, and identifying what different narrative I can share that would better inform their perspective.
If You Want to Keep Going
Where Do We Go From Here?
Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging stand at a crossroads. How can we continue prioritizing inclusive talent development across every area of our organization? And why? In an ever-changing global political climate, how can we build broader, more resilient coalitions that center the needs of the most excluded among us while ensuring allies stay invested in change? Michelle Silverthorn, Founder & CEO of Inclusion Nation, presents this new and timely session on how we can all continue the work of corporate inclusion. She'll share narratives - the old narratives around inclusion and the new narratives each of us should set with our teammates, leaders, and peers. What is wrong with the word "DEI"? How can we implement measurable change? What should employee resource groups be doing to succeed? She'll talk about why inclusion drives top performance, how to identify and share your business-driven objectives, and why centering intersectionality in your work is key for success. Perfect for anyone looking to reset the narrative around inclusion, Michelle's program will answer the question on all of our minds: where do we go from here?
