There used to be a time when diversity, equity, and inclusion practitioners who discussed white supremacy, systemic racism, and anti-blackness were labeled as radical.
Rather than questioning why racialized individuals “make everything about race,” we should instead be interrogating how these gross inequities are able to continue.
Contrary to what some may believe, calling attention to the unique challenges that a group has experienced is not divisive but is a necessary step towards racial reconciliation and healing.
There is a long history of skin color being used to determine social class and status within India—skin color and shade plays a crucial role in which caste a person will be subjected to.
Secretary of State Condeleezza Rice stated that teaching children about the history of racism in America was somehow making “white kids feel bad for being white.” Modifying the way that history is taught so as to coddle white feelings, absolve guilt, and mitigate shame continues a worldwide practice of prioritizing and centering whiteness.
Ignoring the fundamental role that race plays in each of our lives will not lead to any progress; we will, as a country, and as a world, continue to stay stagnant if we keep neglecting the role it plays within our systems and structures.
I am the author of two best-selling books Dirty Diversity and The Pink Elephant and I curate a weekly newsletter on LinkedIn called “The Pink Elephant”, which has over 20,000 subscribers.