No Clear Definition of DEI

What is DEI? The fact that people can't even agree on a definition suggests it's like a turtle flipped on its back, vulnerable and struggling to move forward. Here is my take: Diversity encompasses the variety of identities and perspectives within a community. Inclusion fosters environments where everyone can actively participate and contribute. Inclusion is what we do and diversity is what we hope to get.

The Garden Analogy

Imagine a garden. Inclusion is like the gardening practices we choose — watering, fertilizing, pruning, and ensuring there's enough sunlight. These actions create a conducive environment for plants to thrive. Diversity is the variety of plants that grow in our garden as a result of our gardening. Fairness is the gardener's commitment to adjust resources according to the specific requirements of each plant, ensuring all have an equal chance to thrive. Note that it doesn't mean the aim is to have every plant be the same size — no one is cut down or held back.

The Spackle Problem

I like to think of DEI as an apple. Imagine that a group of people cover the apple with spackle — where the spackle represents the forced oppressor/oppressed ideologies, the "cure for past racism is current racism" mindset, and on and on. All those extremist ideas are the spackle. That spackle doesn't just sit on the surface. Over time, it hardens, creating a tough barrier that warps the apple underneath.

Yet DEI often frames a perpetual battle between oppressors and the oppressed. It equates fairness with equal outcomes. This is politics, not DEI, and needs to be labeled as such.