Why do we care, as a society, about diversity?

NOTE: This is a re-post from 2014 - in todays environment I fear it will get worse but I hope I am wrong.

It is a tough question.......the fact of the matter is that SOCIETY does not care. Society as a organism, is completely apathetic to diversity. Jamelle Bouie of Slate has a great write up of an MTV research survey on Millennials (see here). Basically they believe we have already conquered racial inequality.

I categorically submit that we have not. That is not an opinion, it is what the employee demographics that Google and LinkedIn have recently made public suggest; we do not care about gender equality or racial equality.

There are a lot of areas of society where this matters but I’ll focus on areas that I have some understanding.

A lack of economic drivers.

Fostering and managing a racially diverse workforce is a difficult problem. From a company’s perspective they need talent that can help today. There is no real pressure on these companies to change their practices. There are some common refrains that we hear:

• As long as company X makes money for my portfolio, I don't care.
• I want to know that I am receiving the best care, I don't see color.
• We just choose the best candidate, we do not even look a pictures.

These are the refrain of the masses, and by masses I mean the majority of business, medical, and academic leaders. As with everything it is about context and the path through history that brought us to this moment. While I hesitate to paint a whole demographic with a paint brush, I think we need to discuss these kinds of issues if we have a goal of changing the current trends. So who are ‘THE MASSES”?

Based on most reports the average C-level executive are white males between the ages of 45 and 65.

The events of the past guide our actions

So why doesn't a generation of white men that grew up in the midst of; the African-American civil rights movement, Gandhi's pleas for basic dignity, and "Bra burning" seem to get it?

It might be because they think:

• The battle was fought and won, that we are post-racial, post feminism
• We have already sacrificed enough, if "those people" can't compete now it is because they lack the skill
• There are more important things to worry about than the diversity of my company, talk to me when the economy is better

Now before anyone gets offended and feels they have to justify their equality chops by commenting-I get it, this is a gross generalization of a large cohort. My response is; no evil continues without the inaction of good people. Sorry but my life and career have been adversely affected by the color of my skin. You cannot reasonably expect black folks-or women- to turn the other cheek when they have real world experience with being past over for a better candidate like the CFO's cousin's brother-in-law, twice removed.

So why should Google, Apple, Harvard, or any of our top institutions care about diversity?

..........I don't know. There is very little data that can be used to support the hypothesis that diversity is good for academic or corporate goals.

Laserfiche'sSimplicity blog lays out the potential reasons and some ideas to move forward better than I can. I will leave it to you to read about the reasons that we, as a society, should care.

Does it really matter once minorities are hired?

I want to take a more personal sidetrip; even when males from racial minorities or women are successful (whatever that means) there is a cost-Not only to the minority or female worker but to the organization.

As a black male, I can tell you that just knowing that these demographics exist-and have historically existed- changes my behavior towards colleagues and potential employers. I can’t properly explain what it is like to spend your career as a white elephant, to stick out in such a way that you feel you need to justify why you are there, that you are talented enough and hardworking enough to be there. It makes you less likely to ask for help, less likely to give help when you feel that you have to be better than your colleagues just to retain your place in the food chain. It colors every interaction, brings doubt to any constructive criticism, in short it stunts your growth and your ability to contribute to the companies growth.

It doesn't end at work, it also has an effect on the personal side. The feeling of having the future, of not just you, but anyone who looks like you rest on your ability to succeed is a weight that changes you-not really for the best.

I cannot explain to anyone who hasn't been through it what is like to have people shirk from your handshake-even though they know you are a professor at a university or they are paying you to be in there presence.

I cannot explain the pain and emotions that are surfaced just by meeting black folks in their 70s and 80s and the pride and hope written big on their face just from hearing that you have a Ph.D.

I personally do not want any more generations to go through that, to feel the dual weight of a multiple generation’s hopes and dreams, and the weight of knowing that you will never know if you got a fair shot.

Racial Bias exists, it is part of human nature

We can be better, the first step to reducing our personal bias is to acknowledge that we all have them. We make assumptions based on visual information. The beauty of the human mind is we can consciously fight against this visual bias. It is not easy but hopefully "we" as a society will start to hold our leading institution and businesses to a higher standard now that we have evidence that we have let these companies off easy when it comes to diversity.

What to do now that the election is over and there is a new President

“A perfect democracy, a ‘warm body’ democracy in which every adult may vote and all votes count equally, has no internal feedback for self-correction. It depends solely on the wisdom and self-restraint of citizens… which is opposed by the folly and lack of self-restraint of other citizens.”

Time Enough For Love, Lazarus Long. (R. Heinlein)

The rest is ridiculously long and political: the TL;DR version- its not over whether you believe you are on the winning side or losing side.

[FULL DISCLOSURE: I am a US citizen but I live in Canada- so I have some distance (and protection) from the consequences of the election]

Some thoughts on the election and what democracy means in the age of social media:

If you voted for Trump because the political establishment has consistently let you down- your job isn’t over. 

The establishment is still firmly entrenched in the Senate and the House. If you truly believe that politics as usual is so unacceptable as to elect an outsider like Trump then you need to hold the establishment senators and congressman accountable through engaging with them, ensuring they know that they must change their behaviour and actually work for the disenfranchised not just big money donors. Otherwise, frankly you are a hypocrite whom has been led like a sheep.

If you voted for Clinton because you wanted change- your job isn’t done as long as you breath, you should fight for change.

 Pragmatism can be an effective weapon for change. The GOP was not given a blank check and constituents in states that went to Trump need to hold the government accountable as and ensure that anything that is passed is for everyone not just the minority of the same folks as before if there is no oversight you can bet that it will only be to the benefit of lobbyists.

If you voted against Clinton because your sick of corruption and a political system that is weighted to insiders- your job isn’t over. 

The system is corrupt, politicians routinely put their own interests above those of their constituents especially those they deem as “not their kind.” Hold “your” representatives responsible for what is best for your whole neighborhood not just your race or political party or your economic class.

If you voted against Trump because of the disgusting, sometimes racist, sometimes misogynist things that he has said- job isn’t over. 

Don’t fall into the same language and lack of self-awareness that you voted against. If you truly believe that morals and civility are important- embody that belief. Take the hard road of thinking before speaking, of attempting to understand that words have the power to hurt those that already lack power. Teach your kids that there is a wide chasm between respectful straightforward discourse and “political correctness.”

If you voted for a third-party candidate because the idea of choosing between an entrenched establishment candidate and the “alt-right” business tycoon was so distasteful you had to protest- your job isn’t done. 

If you want a real third party choice, you can’t just vote every four years. There must candidates that can articulate why a reasonable number of people who currently identify as either Democrats or Republicans what is “in it for them.”

If you didn’t vote because of apathy or sloth- congrats you get to shut the fuck up for the next four years. You are part of the problem. Get off your ass, educate your self on the issues that are important to you and vote accordingly based on your conscience.

If you didn’t vote because you are disenfranchised or have had your rights put beyond your means- don’t give in to depression.

Make your case, provide evidence but don’t let them label you as an animal or sub-human but respectful and dignified even in the face of disrespect and hate. Allies can be won by evidence and promoting shared values not by anger and insults.

Basically, if you think simply voting and then bitching about it on Facebook or Twitter has fulfilled your civic duty and you can go back to not caring, your wrong. If it wasn’t clear before the election that “We the people” need to ensure that politicians work together to govern the whole country rather than simply do what polls best with their party – it should be now.

The political establishment won at every phase of this election because no one held them accountable. Neither party has very good ideas for a better future but maybe- if both sides governed and compromised good things can happen. It is how America became great politicians knew that if they went back to their districts without having done something other than block bills and vote on the same one or two political issues over and over again they would get turfed.

Governing cannot be seen as a war to be won. Wars can only be won if you kill more of the opposition than you lose. That is not what makes democracy happen, it is the continual balancing of the rights of the majority with the protection of the minority- it is the idea that individual opportunity should not be tied to economic, racial or geographic hurdles. Right now to everyone except the super-rich and the politically connected the US doesn’t feel like a real democracy or the land of opportunity.