DEI takes its cues from the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. It is not new.
Remember the new whatever you just had to have? (For me, it was this shiny silver shirt I wore to the Beyoncé concert movie. Trust me, it didn’t age well and I haven’t worn it since.)
Though connected to history, the term DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is like that new whatever thing you just bought that you just had to have. It’s new, shiny, and fresh.
Until it isn’t.
Humanity—in its purest form—never needs to be told to act justly or to treat people with a clarity that makes seeing their story or value possible. Businesses that roll back their DEI regulations, strategies, and standards are being crushed under the weight of political structures that may affect their earnings if they don’t comply—not what hurts their “target” consumers (ha!). While disappointing, their decisions are not new either. Many American companies needed to be reminded to practice DEI even before DEI existed. And that says a lot.
Takeaways (TL; DL)
Audience: Black people who live with Long Covid. And white folks who love Black folks enough to high-five us with some loving truth from a fellow Black folk-woman.
DEI is a symptom of a larger problem. The term is only five years old. The concept sounds new but it borrows from America’s Civil Rights Movement which sought to assure that Black people were given the same powers and privileges as Whites. However, the powers that be who control this country (including a few white male billionaires from the looks of it) are unwilling to share their wealth or privilege with those who don’t look or function like them. So essentially, DEI is a tired remix in its attempt to offer opportunities to those—often Blacks—who are not automatically given them.
Black communities are slated to spend $1.6 trillion dollars in America. We set the standard of what’s cool and trendy in every industry: cars, alcohol, apparel, cosmetics, and more. When we don’t spend, America’s largest capitalists—I mean companies—feel it.
Boycotting stores like Target, Walmart, and Amazon may see some impact but perhaps not enough to make a collective difference. Shop where you love for what you love. If your goal is to Buy Black, come hell or DEI rollbacks, you will incorporate that into your budget and still purchase. (Ahem, Black woman operating a Black business over here.)
There are other ways to make companies pick up what you’re putting down. Practice financial literacy—even in the smallest ways: save a dollar more, put a few coins in the stock market, obtain a financial planner, and curb your spending from these stores—period. Whether their ethics align with yours or not, these companies will notice the difference and so will your wallet.
If you live with Long Covid (or another chronic illness) and are disabled with limited income, I’m sure you care less about DEI than surviving week to week. (Amen, Somebody!) Money is paper. It’s the spirit in which we manage and spend it that makes the biggest difference. You still have the power to send a strong message to yourself, your money, and these companies. Establish a small nest egg or create a small legacy. (Think of dumping a dime of a dollar in a well every single time, and digging in the well when we really need some water).
We’re all are grown around here. As cute as they are, let babies be babies. And let these companies fight among themselves. I’d love to hear your comments about Episode 1.
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