I am a white woman who leads diversity and inclusion.

Published on LinkedIn May 30, 2020

What does this mean?

It means I recognize that I haven't experienced the bias many of those who I serve have experienced. It means I recognize my privilege and use it to change the mindsets of others “like me.” It means I need to recognize when to reach out to and trust those who are in the communities that I serve to help guide me in creating the change needed. It means that I recognize that there is no one size-fits-all approach and that while each community may have some similarities, the individuals are unique and have their own stories and experiences. It means that I need to recognize the difference between diversity and inclusion and belonging, and educate others on these terms. It means I need to feel uncomfortable and have uncomfortable conversations. It means I need to be humble. It means I need to go into every conversation with an open mind, without assumptions. It means I need to check my own biases every single moment of every single day – biases that stretch beyond race and gender but to how people work, lead, live.

Being a diversity and inclusion professional means putting your “self” aside to help others shine. It means looking deep within my organization to find the jewels that many others overlook. It means speaking up and speaking for others who may not yet have found their voice or who have been left behind. It means having the courage to call others out on their bad behavior. It is about having a job that requires you to understand that each small change will lead to larger change. It is about patience and perseverance. It is about recognizing that one never knows what is going on in someone’s life or what has happened to them in their past. It is about listening. It is about having an open mind. It is about knowing that this job is thankless and necessary and hard. It is about knowing that I am in the fortunate majority. No one goes into diversity for fame and fortune. I chose this career because I want to use what makes me unique to change mindsets and because I want a different world for myself and my children and their children.

What I have seen and heard over the years has been inspiring and frustrating. Motivating and tiring.

What I have seen over the past several weeks makes me sick and sad and makes me question how we’ve come so far but not far at all.

White people, we need to do better. This is not about black vs white. This is about how we rally as a people to stop the hate, bias, and inequality. We need to speak up against the hate. The hate that is happening to our Black friends. The hate that is happening to our Asian friends. The hate that has happened to our LGBT friends, and our Hispanic friends, and anyone who has been held back, discriminated against, not been given opportunities because of what they look like.

If you don’t have any friends who fit any of these categories, think about that. It is 2020. We need to do better. While it is my job to stop this, it is OUR job to stop this. We are in a position of privilege because of our skin. Recognize that. Use that to speak up. Call people out when they make stereotypical comments, call people out when they make insensitive comments. Tell them it is not OK. Check your own biases. I am sick and sad and horrified of what has been happening. This cannot continue. There are not enough diversity professionals in the world to change this fast enough. But there are enough humans. We all need to do our part. Join me in stopping the hate. Please.