The diversity conversation has to change

[As with most of my pieces here, this originated as a twitter thread]

So that article about Zuckerberg speaking about diversity as CEO of a company with barely any black employees touched on a thing that bothers me. So twitter thread incoming, get a needle. A big one possibly cause this is a topic that bugs me so much.

So, diversity panels and talks are often given by mostly white folks. This can happen for several reasons. First reason, the one I hear most often is simply “we didn’t think about it.” A panel on diversity that’s leaving off black, indigenous, trans, other POC, NB folks. The folks who could speak from experience.

Often served up with a bit of guilt at this revelation. This happened twice that I saw at GDC. One panel on diversity was 5/6 white, 2 white men, one non-black woman. WW moderator. The experience we got was someone who got to put on a black woman via VR and “feel” what it’s like. Nope, not how that works.

Other panel was all women at least, but only 1 black woman, and 1 queer woman AFAIK. That’s just one conference and two panels. There’s a lot of other places I’ve been with same problem but no one thinks about it till after. If they think about it at all, even when it’s pointed out to them. Then it’s a THING especially if it’s pointed out publicly.

There’s also the problem of having a white person, albeit marginalized in a way that’s the face of your diversity initiatives. Take the diversity lounge at PAX as an example. Not the lounge itself but looking around the room, it’s mostly white led orgs. Very few POC led orgs because conventions aren’t cheap. Even with free table & badges you have to get there, hotel, etc.

You also need something on your table, buttons, info cards, something. Again not cheap. So who has the money for that stuff? Better question is where is the support from all those companies with diversity in their mission statement? Who declare it loudly & often. Y’all know the answer. If you’re not a 501(c)(3) charity it’s hard to get $$ from companies. Donations, patreon etc only does so much.

That’s assuming you get enough notice to garner support enough to travel beyond home cons. If there are events where you’re based. So a lot of POC led things that don’t get eyes on their work can be left out. Or the cost of an event is simply too much, so if your company is out here patting itself on the back about diversity, ask for receipts on what it did to support others work.

Last thing cause I’m wordy and I haven’t had coffee yet, is the kinds of diversity that gets spotlighted. I’ve seen companies do rainbows for days and support lgbtqia initiatives and orgs, but nary a peep during black history month. They’ll do pink everything & hold up same examples during women’s history month, then hold a thoughtless Cinco de Mayo event two months later.

Its often the safe things that get diversity dollars and funding. Safe meaning they get brownie points for “recognizing” diversity. Like that ridiculous rainbow elephant by that PHP group. To raise awareness about LGBTQIA issues. Also the money wasn’t even going to help lgbtqia orgs! Like they literally created an elephant in the room as least effort Diversity 001.

All diversity needs to be celebrated, orgs doing things like working towards better indigenous representation for example. Or folks doing more than feel good, empty tokenism that is more performance than progress. They need resources too. If we’re ever going to get to a point where we can stop needing things like diversity lounges, we need to do some hard work. We’re going to have to support initiatives that go beyond fake ass, feel good token shows of good will with nothing behind them.

We need the people who can speak to these issues invited to the table, not requested as a mea culpa when the omission is pointed out. We need to stop having diversity panels led and filled with white folks who can only speak to one area of marginalization. Orgs need to stop hiring white dudes to be their diversity & inclusion leads. Cause that’s a special sore spot for me.

Org: Look, we care about diversity!

Same org: hires white dude as head of D&I.

It’s a tangled problem because if you put a non-white person in that role often they may be ignored or not taken seriously. That’s when you know their hire was for optics versus actually doing better. When you don’t actually listen to them, well…

This is assuming you have a D&I position at your org. Often POC are given these things as other duties as assigned. No extra pay, no recognition and don’t you dare take extra time for that diversity stuff. But why didn’t you coordinate some events? It’s all fucked up because so many people think they know what diversity and inclusion means but they are lost as can be. It’s how we get events like bring your cultures food to work day in an office with grown ass people scared to try “ethnic foods”

I mean I could go on but you all know which stupid insert X history or awareness month activities I’m referencing. That’s so grade school, but people think this is progressive. That it will somehow bridge a gap if we discover delicious food. Spoiler, it won’t. But that’s the level a lot of people are at with how they view diversity. People need to get over their fears.

What fears? Of being possibly, maybe called a racist for exposing how little they know about others. It’s not the end of everything. Yes, you probably have some racist beliefs trained into you that you don’t know & won’t recognize easily. But that’s a hurdle to overcome and a branching rant not entirely related to what I started off on. So back on track!

To summarize:

• Stop putting white faces as the public facing look of your diversity initiatives. It tells me it’s a token effort at best
• Have a Diversity and Inclusion position at your organization. Don’t put the one out queer, white person in that role. Recruit externally
• Diversify your fucking panels. Stop asking white people their opinions on issues that don’t directly affect them.
• Diversify your staff. If there’s only unaware white people in your org, who’s going to point out issues along the way?
• If you do have POC, lgbtqia, NB, MI folks who speak up on issues, listen to them. Actually listen & do something
• Lastly put your money where your mouth is. The work costs money & time. Wanna really do better? Spend the money to get there

Donate to smaller orgs that can benefit from a cash injection, or useful equipment not just old crap your org can no longer use. Also keep your well, actually in your pocket. Really not in the mood for it.