Confronting Privilege, Power and Prejudice: Critical Conversations in DEI

In a world brimming with diverse thoughts and perspectives, our conversations often lead us down the path of discovery and understanding. And yet, the road to change is often paved with difficult conversations, particularly when it comes to discussing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

Erika’s Ethical Bar

Starting off our discussion, Erika, a dedicated advocate for children’s rights, emphasizes the need for a higher moral benchmark. She states,

The starting point is always “no harm must be done to children”… for me that’s setting the bar in the basement… “especially for someone who follows Christ”

. Here, Erika highlights the need to go beyond simply avoiding harm, and towards actively promoting the well-being of all children.

Kay’s Provocative Post

Our conversation took a turn when Kay shared the content of a recent social media post that resulted in her account being restricted:

“Ban all white people until we figure this shit out”

. This controversial statement sparked a lively debate about the limits of free speech and the ongoing struggle to confront systems of privilege.

Salman on Power Dynamics

Salman, a seasoned LinkedIn user, brought up an important point:

LinkedIn is about upholding power for whomever is in power

. This perspective offers a critical lens through which to view social media platforms, as they often reflect and reinforce existing power structures.

Kay’s Challenge: Conversing About Privilege

Kay further shared her personal challenge of discussing white privilege with her white male friends. She expressed her frustration and the resistance she faced when she asserted that a white man may not have been fired in a similar situation as hers. This highlights the difficulty of discussing privilege with those who benefit from it.

The Threat of HB 8706

Our conversation took a serious turn when we discussed the proposed US bill, HB 8706. If passed, this bill threatens to abolish all DEI offices in the government, fire all DEI professionals, and potentially render these professionals unhireable in the future. Alarmingly, none of the big advocacy organizations have picked up on this yet. It is a call to action for all DEI advocates to raise awareness and fight against this bill.

Meeting People Where They Are

Despite the challenges, there is a shared understanding that meaningful change requires patience and understanding. The phrase

“Meeting people where they are”

came up often, suggesting the importance of understanding others’ perspectives when discussing sensitive topics like DEI. As a business coach, the ability to modulate and find a starting point in these conversations is critical, albeit difficult.

Resources & Links

<a href=’HB”>https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8706/text’>HB 8706

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