By: Lori Perkins
The Washington Post reported recently that corporate commitments to DEAI initiatives have been in decline, and DEAI roles, so recently created, have been disappearing. That was fast!
Back in 2020, there was a nationwide rush to get out in front on DEAI, to be first in line with the most heartfelt commitment and the purest intent. In our own profession, we saw AZA’s 5th Promise and a new accreditation standard, dozens of statements of commitment from organizations, and more than a few positions added or adapted to include a focus on DEAI.
Three years in, I’m starting to get a “now what?” vibe, along with maybe some cooling of the earlier passion for change. All that rapid action of a few years ago has, I think, left many of us wondering how to sustain momentum and articulate a destination.
“Moving fast is not the same as going somewhere.” –Robert Anthony
I’m proud of our profession’s willingness—maybe it was even eagerness—to do something in the wake of the social upheavals of recent years. Some of my friends would say we were late to the party, but at least we got here, even if “here” feels like a place of uncertainty. It’s distressing to acknowledge the undeniable fact that cultural divisions are deepening, and that they seem to be fueled by things that feel trivial: the spokesperson for Bud Light, the sales rack at Target. When we’ve reached a point where grown adults are engaging in heated arguments over the ethnicity of a mermaid (do mermaids even have ethnicity? The taxonomy feels unclear) or the sexuality of an animated ice queen, I need to sit down and think. How on earth did the good intentions of 2020 lead us to this point of divisiveness and hostility?
“Bad times have a scientific value. These are occasions a good learner would not miss.” –Ralph Waldo Emerson
Great, thanks, Ralph – what are we supposed to learn from this uncomfortable place in which we find ourselves? I mean, I get that the word “woke” was political from the outset – it was of late supposed to mean that you were socially aware and empathetic (though it actually has a pretty complicated etymology), but those words are subjective, and, wow, the transition of “woke” from compliment to pejorative has to be the fastest turnaround ever. Is that just a result of shrewd marketing, or did the “woke” community try to push things too far, too fast? (But should those who dig their heels in to resist social change or who refuse to learn empathy be given the grace of time and a slowed pace? What is due in the way of kindness and patience to those who don’t offer kindness and patience to others?) Surely repaying indecency with more indecency brings no greater good, nor is backing off of sincerely-made commitments the answer – it took long enough to get here, let’s hang on to that progress and figure out how to advance, not lose ground! But I want to see our community move forward together, not in separate, isolated pods with chips on our shoulders, afraid to ask questions, ready to take offense at the next perceived affront.
“The problem with taking offense is that it’s really hard to figure out what to do with it after you’re done using it. Better to just leave it on the table and walk away. Umbrage untaken quietly disappears.” –Seth Godin
I’m positive we can reclaim the spirit from which we started this journey and recommit to advancing our missions (I’ve written before about why DEAI is indeed a part of our missions), maintaining our stated commitments to inclusion and belonging without politicizing our goals, and owning our impact without making presumptions about one another’s intentions. I want us to hold on to what progress we’ve made – what a shame it would be to abandon those efforts and the passion behind them just because we’re not completely sure of what comes next. Stepping ahead in uncertainty is, with certainty, more easily done together.
“You will either step forward into growth, or you will step back into safety.” -Abraham Maslow
So let’s go, let’s grow. And it’s okay if “woke” doesn’t speak to you. Just don’t go back to sleep.
Canopy Strategic Partners is available to assist you with your DEAI plan. Learn more about our diversity strategy and contact us to discuss next steps.
