Continued Conversations into Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the workplaces has shifted to the forefront for many companies. in the wake of Black Lives Matter and the continued protests surrounding injustices, the conversation has been a catalyst in many of the areas where injustices and discrimination plays a major role. While this shift has been a positive step forward, some of these initiatives have fallen short of implementing meaningful change, particularly for Black employees.
An issue that arises is companies may focus on increasing diversity without addressing the underlying biases and systemic issues that prevent Black employees from advancing within the organization. It may be a start to shift recruitment to bring in more talented people of color but if the interview process falls short on seeing individuals make it through to the end, what has been accomplished? Management usually has a final say on who they want and often times its falls to who they know. Diversity sometimes isn’t reflected in management and executive level positions. The underlying biases may be hidden when it comes to those in these positions as they could be unaware of the recruitment pool that has made it to the interview with them. Other issues that prevent itself is companies may hire more Black employees at entry-level positions and then fail to provide them with resources needed to advance or often times overlook them as options for promotions or advancements.
The continued promotion of diversity, equity and inclusion often falls to employees of color to lead the charge of the conversation and carry the burden of microaggressions and discrimination in the workplace. unconscious bias training has been introduced but often falls to being a checkbox that needs to be checked as completed instead of addressing the underlying structural inequalities or the unique experiences and perspectives of Black employees. The conversation needs to be more than just conversations. More than just a training exercise and more than an initiative to promote DEI without applying the necessary changes. It goes beyond just hiring more diverse employees. There needs to be policies and practices that continue to be acted on, outside of meetings, trainings and discussions.
While it is important to recognize and celebrate different groups at different periods of time (Black history month, Women’s History month, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Pride, Hispanic heritage month etc.), limiting the conversation to specific months or events can create a false sense of progress. Where does the conversation go once the month ends? Did the moments lead directly to implementing a change? Does it get carried on outside of each specific month of celebration? initiatives should be ongoing and integrated into the fabric of a company's culture and values and promote a culture of inclusion and allyship year-round that works within each group but also across each group. Where does the conversation go from here?
Publication declines SZA's request for Black photographer
And if there wasn’t another reason… this is why it is very important that we lift up Black Publications and build up our own spaces. SZA’s request to be shot by a Black photographer was turned down by a publication she refused to name.
And if there wasn’t another reason… this is why it is very important that we lift up Black Publications and build up our own spaces. SZA’s request to be shot by a Black photographer was turned down by a publication she refused to name.
“I requested a Black photographer for a cover n the mag told me no lol its 2021...and almost Juneteenth,” SZA posted on Twitter. “Respectfully, I can’t do it.” Not wanting to name the publication, SZA did go on to list a few publications who previously featured her on covers and gave Black photographers the chance to showcase their talents.
But we’ve heard this story before. We know this too well. It dates back as far as magazines have existed from the popular teen magazine refusing to feature Tia & Tamera Mowry with the success they had because they didn’t think they would sell; to Beyoncé having brought over the first Black Photographer (Tyler Mitchell) to shoot a Vogue cover. Its all smoke and mirrors. If Beyoncé wasn’t as big of a name and a need for Vogue would they have still gone with a Black Photographer? Not taking away from the achievements to have accomplished such a feature but when do we get to a point where we lift up Black publications and spaces that don’t blatantly exclude Black talent until its trendy?
This can also be attributed to the level of celebrity publications may assume someone to have — which seems they will bend to a cover stars request if they need them. At what point do go where we are accommodated. When do we go where its people who look like us and create for us? When do we have spaces created by people who look like us be the go to place where we don’t have to go into these spaces where we don’t our needs met.
It continues to go back to having to work twice as hard to obtain half in return. The fact that there seems to be little to no Black Creatives at these publications that can execute a project that would showcase Black Talent in the right light. It’s always the bringing in a Black Photographer or the Black makeup artist or the Black designer just for the purpose of the shoot instead of already being equipped with a diverse group of talent. Even this sentiment extends outside of just creative spaces. It’s the same in corporate spaces. It’s the same in professional fields with Doctors and hospitals. And the list goes on and on.
How are we in 2021, still having to hear and see these same stories? How are these publications still managing to skate by and be allowed to run spaces like these? When do we make these spaces more diverse or have a diverse space do what should be done?
Derek Chauvin found guilty for the murder of George Floyd
Following three weeks of testimonies, a jury in Minneapolis, Minnesota found Derek Chauvin guilty on all counts in the murder of George Floyd. The former officer is now convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Chauvin’s bail would also be revoked, as we await his sentencing, which will be in a couple of months.
Now that a guilty verdict has been reached, the fight for justice is not over. There is still a lot of work to do. There is still a responsibility for this America to start making changes so this doesn’t happen again. This verdict can not be the end all, be all. This cannot be the resolution to years of police brutality and misconduct. This cannot be the justification of action and changes happening.
We're really back at peaceful protests, tear gas and riot gear - not even a full year later.
In the wake of the events happening in Minnesota, not even a full year after the events that led to the murder of George Floyd; while ex-cop Derek Chauvin stands trial - we return to protests and police force back in riot gear and placing barricades around areas in Minnesota after Ex-cop Kim Potter, “accidentally” fired her gun killing Daunte Wright.
Pepper spray is used from behind the fenced perimeter of the Brooklyn Center Police Department on Wednesday.
Nick Pfosi/Reuters
In the wake of the events happening in Minnesota, not even a full year after the events that led to the murder of George Floyd; while ex-cop Derek Chauvin stands trial - we return to protests and police force back in riot gear and placing barricades around areas in Minnesota after Ex-cop Kim Potter, “accidentally” fired her gun killing Daunte Wright. The former Brooklyn Center police officer faces second-degree manslaughter charges for the death of Daunte Wright.
The home of the former officer has been barricaded by large concrete and fencing and is under police supervision. Protest have erupted and protesters have been met with force; including police in riot gear as well as being shot with tear gas.
A person gets their eyes washed out after the police released chemical irritants on protesters on Wednesday.
Leah Millis/Reuters
The head of Minnesota’s largest police union, Brian Peters believes Daunte Wright was partly responsible for his own death. “Daunte Wright, if he would have just complied. He was told he was under arrest. They were arresting him on a warrant for weapons. He set off a chain of events that unfortunately led to his death.”
“I’m not excusing it,” Peters continued. “But what we’re seeing in policing these days is that non-compliance by the public.” - It’s statements that’s been said before. It’s statements that come off contradictory when we don’t see the same actions taken with non-African Americans. Even in recent events, we don’t see these actions taken when police officers are directly threatened by white people. A 61-year-old white man dragged and assaulted an officer but was not shot or tased in the process. The incident occurred in Minnesota, days after Daunte Wright was fatally shot by officers in the same state.
The shooting sparked protests across the state of Minnesota and prompted Brooklyn Center Police Chief Tim Gannon and Potter to resign from their positions. Potter was later arrested and released from Hennepin County Jail on $100,000 bail. She now faces charges of second-degree manslaughter in connection with Wright’s death. If convicted, she can serve up to 10 years in prison and may be required to pay a $20,000 fine.
Richard Tsong-Taatarii/Star Tribune/AP
And with another name, another situation, it seems we are back where we were just a year ago, even back where were 50-60 years ago; with the same situation yielding the same results or different results lessened in comparison to results to the same situation when in comes to police officers. How many more unarmed black men and women have to be killed? How many more peaceful protests have to occur? How many more excuses have to be made for things to be changed?
Daunte Wright's mother says “justice isn't even a word to me” in response to the charges brought against Potter. Justice doesn’t bring her son back. - Would justice "bring our son home to us, knocking on the door with his big smile coming in the house, sitting down eating dinner with us, going out to lunch, playing with his one-year-old, almost-two-year-old son, giving them a kiss before he walks out the door,"
Chyna Whitaker, holding her son Daunte Wright Jr.,
Protesters gathered in Brooklyn Center on Wednesday night. or the second night in a row, no reports of looting or fires set in Brooklyn Center were made, Minnesota Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said.
Two Officers Involved in Breonna Taylor's case have been terminated
Two Louisville officers connected to the Breonna Taylor’s fatal shooting have officially been fired. Both Detective Myles Cosgrove and Detective Joshua Jaynes were relieved of their duties on Jan. 5th. Cosgrove was terminated for failing to activate his body camera during the incident. Jaynes was not present when at the scene on the night Taylor died, but he sought the warrant that authorized the raid. Despite the firings, both detectives can challenge the dismissal.
As previously reported, Taylor was shot and killed back in March by officers who entered her apartment to serve a no-knock search warrant in a drug case. Neither of the officers were charged for her death, but Brett Hankison was indicted on three wanton endangerment charges for blindly firing 10 shots into Taylor’s home and and recklessly endangering Taylor’s neighbors. He was fired by the Lousiville Metro Police Department back in June.
LEAVING A JOB DURING A PANDEMIC?
8 Years. 7 Months. + Working during a pandemic.
It’s been a weird year. As much as I reflect on it, I still struggle with putting into words what brought me to this decision, especially when the beginning of the year seemed so promising, with so many opportunities on the horizon. During the start of a pandemic, everything changing and the world reacting in response to this new idea of social distancing and working from home, it would change everything for me in a major way. Add in the heightened racial tensions and the uncovering of the disparities that has always there and you come up with a very different outlook especially being affected by it directly.
On one hand you have all of the projects that is within your grasps and in the space of the direction you want to go in and then you have your actual work that is deemed “essential”. While everyone has a work from home plan, that leaves no plan for the essential work that needs to be done on site. All of the projects gets cancelled or postponed and there is no real plan for it to continue and work becomes stressful. You hear about everyone’s experience working from home and how they hate it, and how its hard being at home and its an experience you can’t understand because you’re working, in a pandemic, risking your life and facing the unknown while being tasks with everything outside of your job description. You rarely hear the experience on the opposite side from those deemed essential outside of healthcare. It definitely puts a strain on finding ways to be creative and the time set aside for creativity.
Launching ELSV in 2014 and revisiting it in 2019 with plans for 2020 was a highlight for where it seemed 2020 was going. With a planned event in March, that would kickstart the original goal that helped launch ELSV — creating a space for Black Voices often silenced; celebrating Black stories and Black Creatives and pushing the boundaries of what it looks like to be Black in the future. 2020 has been a year that has brought unexpected challenges. Months into a pandemic and having to take a concerning look at where things are and where they are heading and what is important in a time of uncertainty can be alarming. Being deemed essential but being overlooked, left out and forgotten can also be alarming. So deciding on the plan you had in mind long before Covid-19 becomes easy. Reflecting on leaving, one month later, puts things into perspective. If 2020 can teach us anything, it is the resilience we have when faced with a variety of difficulties — That we can become stronger and adapt and thrive in spite of. So for me, a new city, rebuilding a brand, taking on new opportunities becomes promising. It becomes a step that seems necessary when looking at the upside of 2020.
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UNITY IS GREAT BUT FREEDOM IS BETTER
"I think certain sides have given a lot, you know. And I think the question is, how much more do we need to give? You know, I always say this: unity is great, but freedom is better. And there's a part of this population that has sacrificed their freedom time and time again for unity, and they're tired of it. Yes, we want to have compromise. Yes, we want bipartisanship. But it shouldn't cost people [their] wages, and health care, and education. So if you're asking us to come together and that means that *my* world doesn't change, the people whose world needs to change doesn't change, I don't want that kind of unity. I want the kind of unity that leads to change for people who have waited for it. And if this pandemic hasn't showed us that we need to serve people *first*, and that needs to be a unifying message, the Republicans need to be on board with actually taking care of people, if we can unify around that then I'm all for it. But if that means we're gonna compromise and we're gonna continue to serve the one percent, the people who we have always served, that's not the kind of unity we need right now." - Yvette Simpson
As everyone responds to the news of the president elect being Joe Biden and having a democratic candidate win; It is important to see a clear transition from what we have come to see, not only in the past 4 years but for the system that has been in place for so long. It is important for us to see a clear direction of change. A Democratic Presidential win can’t be the end of a movement towards change. A female Vice President elect can’t be the final stop towards breaking barriers. This process shouldn’t stop here. The work must continue and it should be taken lightly because there is still so much that needs to get done.
As we have seen, the racial disparities when it comes to how this pandemic has affected communities and have a system in place has failed so many. This win shouldn’t take away from black lives matter movement. This win, for many, shouldn’t be the quick fix that some are taking this as. The President elect spoke about ‘uniting both sides,” after his win but this shouldn’t erase of overshadow the issues Black and minority communities have faced.
We we’re in the negative and now we are at zero -
Just as I viewed this Instagram Post, what Yvette Simpson stated embodied exactly my thoughts on how this year and this election has played out. Once again Black Women are showing up and doing the work.
NO OFFICERS CHARGED WITH BREONNA TAYLOR'S DEATH
ARE WE SURPRISED? CHANGE A FEW DETAILS AND THE STORY IS STILL THE SAME -HASHTAG BLACKLIVESMATTER. GET OUT AND PROTEST. JUST TO FACE ‘THE ALREADY SET UP’ POLICE BARRICADES - It’s like Deja vu; change a few details, the name, the location and the story is still the same. I can probably go back to an article I wrote years back and do this and it will flow the same- only difference is the dates. It reads the same. Unarmed black man / woman murdered by police who used excessive and unnecessary force. Police gets suspended, maybe fired but not arrested. Media digs up unrelated info to discredit black man or woman or paint them in a negative light. Police may be indicted but never charged. Protests about the decision just to be faced with police barricades with officers with their riot gear just to arrest peaceful protesters and the cycle continues over and over.
Enter white male civilian, who commits an act of terror- shoots at a crowd, shoots up a school, shoots up a movie theater, shoots up a church, killing a number of people; gets into a dispute with a police officer, isn’t shot at or killed but showed restraint. It doesn’t end, white male civilian fights with cops, aims a gun or weapon at a cop and doesn't get shot or killed. Media reports the story and somehow finds a way to lighten the story and use buzz words like he was a nice kid or he suffered from a mental illness or something that doesn't call out what they are, terrorists, murderers etc and the cycle continues over and over.
Black people protest peacefully in the name of justice against the system, its labeled a riot, and other harsh terms and police and military are brought out with their rubber bullets and their riot gear but in the same protests you have white people armed with rifles walking around antagonizing and shooting at peaceful protesters but it gets ignored or its allowed to continue without question, praised as if they are protecting some American way of life or showing some patriotism for this country. Even in their protests, while armed with rifles against their home team loosing a football game or against the mandated law to wear masks to protect during a pandemic, they get a pass. But it’s a story that has been repeating itself and none of this is anything new.
Reactions to the grand jury's decision in the Breonna Taylor fatal shooting
Its only sad and stressful how much this has to be pointed out and for some people to still not get it. But the story remains the same no matter which details get changed. And in this case, no charges for the officers involved. Louisville has prepared for the possibility of unrest, announcing a 72-hour countywide curfew starting 9 p.m. with Government buildings being closed. But in America. For the land of the free. In the name of Justice, it’s what is expected at this point. Better to prepare for the public outrage that comes from these wrongful death decisions instead of changing a system that upholds it. Better to force a curfew knowing that the ruling will be what the people would not want to see. Better to protect the officers and the institution than to actually provide justice. If the police are not at fault, it is the system in place. If a Breonna’s Law can be created, there should be some justice.
But we continue with Hashtags; Say Her Name, Say His Name, Black Lives Matter, A few settlements here; money raised there but continuing the same cycle. We now Push the importance to vote but a whole system refuses to except something is wrong.
PHASING OUT ON THE REAL ISSUES OF BLACK LIVES MATTER
It’s been several weeks; slow progress, and fleeting attention but it looks like it’s back to business as usual. In its peak, it seemed there was some solidarity in pushing the movement of Black Lives Matter. Companies and Brands rushed to post their black squares “for the aesthetic” which to me felt just to alleviate from the backlash if they had not taken a stand. Several statements went out but it started to feel like a PR response. Now we are a month in, the media has quickly shifted its focus as if the protests stopped happening, or as if the issues had been solved, or as if the drop in rioting and looting that took focus away from the peaceful protest made it difficult to just talk about the peaceful protest.
Paint the streets with art saying ‘Black Lives Matter’ and that should do it. Name a few streets ‘Black Lives Matter’ and that should also do it. Dress in Black Culture and that should do it. Organize your company to focus on the few Black employees and that should do it. What about… put Black Music first in your streaming services or movies with Black Issues first and that should do it. Let’s skip over arresting the police officers who murdered Breonna Taylor and so many others. Lets also skip over changing anything. Instead let’s distract with this performative act, hoping they won’t notice.
What else haven’t we noticed? Donations and petitions in the name of Black Lives Matter, where have they gone? How much have they helped? How much has been used for the issues we as a community has been facing? …
Let’s not forget, there’s still a pandemic going on - well two but Covid-19 hasn’t disappeared unless there’s something we’re not being told. Suddenly it’s back to business and a rush to Phase 4. What’s the rush? Are we in a hurry for the business aspect of things? Of course, we can’t keep the economy falling so let’s ignore all the social distancing and get back to opening everything. As we move towards reopening, it seems Phase 4 is just phasing out the real issues and returning to normal. But that norm as forever changed and we cannot go back to what was before. Like Post 9/11, airport security as forever changed; as for Covid-19, the way we live has forever changed. Adding the awareness of the systemic racism that is ingrained in America; we can no longer ignore what this country has been built on and move forward, neglecting the people who have been effected the most. Are we going to let media and elected officials quietly sweep this back under the rug so we can be “great” again?
Breonna’s Law has been passed which bans “No-Knock” warrants and now sets procedures for executing all search warrants. One officer has been fired but no arrests have been made and we are going on 100+ days since the murder. With cameras and under public scrutiny, nothing has slowed down more cases of police misconduct and brutality. Protests continue for Defunding The Police, with the media misinterpreting it as removing the police forces instead of what it actually means - which is to redistribute the funds into other areas that need it.