We must ask ourselves if diversity means a granting of privileges to those who are not deserving or whether it means an equality of opportunity so that our nation can merely live into the diversity that is America.

…DEI initiatives should be transformative workplace culture tools examining if the status quo is reflective of and relevant to our ever changing society.

via The Fulcrum

To me, the definition is obvious. America is diverse, and DEI affirms that diversity. But, I have seen DEI training as a way to sidestep our responsibilities to be diverse, inclusive, and equitable. Instead, DEI is a way to say, “Yes, we can check that off” without embracing the spirit of what it means.

That approach to DEI, a superficial one focused on compliance and ultimately a lie, highlights the disparities. You have now taught me that you only give lip service to the ideals that you so claim to cherish.

In so doing, you make all of us complicit in your lie that we are a DEI space. A workplace that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable.

You have fooled no one.

That is, I suppose, the power of the second half of the definition in The Fulcrum above.

The Department of Education is warning state education agencies they may lose federal funding if they do not remove DEI policies and programs to comply with the department’s interpretation of federal law.

Source: Scripps News