Turning the Fire Inward, Part 1 for Progressives | S2, Ep 8
In this week's episode of Race in the Workplace, I talk about what leaders of progressive organizations can do when internal dynamics slow down mission-centered work to the point of ineffectiveness. Despite the gains made from protests, advocacy, and commitments following the murder of George Floyd three years ago, many progressive organizations seem stuck. Much of the fire for a shared purpose and mission has turned inward toward leadership and other power dynamics. In this episode, I also discuss the deliberate targeting of DEI, why it has been falsely blamed for inequity, and how the disconnect between naming racism and addressing it threatens the future of progressive spaces. As always, each day is a new opportunity to make choices that move progressive organizations toward greater equity. Tune in to hear why progressive organizations need to discard old norms along with practical steps to prioritize equity inside of organizations.
Topics discussed in this episode:
1- Today’s topic: Turning the fire inward [0:01:12]
2- Framing the current context: DEI as a target [0:02:07]
3- The dominant narrative that DEI is responsible for inequity and the efforts to “return to colorblind equality” [0:05:38]
4- An explanation of what is meant by the phrase “Turning the Fire Inward.” [0:07:53]
5- The root of much of what is happening in progressive spaces: the disingenuous disconnect between being willing to name racism but not disrupt it. [0:08:56]
6- The need to get real about equity urgently and what this looks like in organizations. [0:10:44]
7- Thoughts on how DEI doesn't create inequity, it names it, and how this naming dynamic plays out in organizations. [0:14:40]
8- Practical things that you can do to get your organization unstuck, starting with moving beyond the naming. [17:38]
9- Why it’s important to focus on equity-centered practice first before doing external work. [0:18:20]
10- Acknowledging the generational divide in most workplaces. [0:19:03]
11- How the failure in progressive spaces to address racism gives fodder to those who despise equity. [0:19:43]
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- What if Diversity Training Is Doing More Harm Than Good?[0:02:58]
- ‘DEI is dead’: At VMI, Youngkin’s diversity chief slams diversity, equity, inclusion [0:03:02]
- Massive Tech Layoffs Are Undercutting DEI Progress Made With Recent Hires [0:03:16]
- How Do Equity and Equality Differ?[0:06:23]
- “Elephant in the Zoom: Meltdowns Have Brought Progressive Advocacy Groups to a Standstill at a Critical Moment in World History” [0:08:15]
- The Backlash to Workplace DEI [0:11:36]
- When Fatigue Sets in [0:20:09]
Click here for an episode transcript.
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