Diversity is Valued When It Is Without Power
It starts with a knock. A quiet and persistent tap at the door.
Diversity.
We crack the door open, just a bit. Enough to let it in but not too much to let it roam. We like to keep diversity close, on a leash, on our terms. We smile at it, maybe even welcome it into the room. “Sit here,” we say. “No, not there. Over here. Perfect.” Always the guest. Never the host. Diversity can stay as long as it submits to our whim. As long as it doesn’t expect anything. As long as it remembers who’s in charge. But what happens when diversity decides not to sit quietly?
Diversity is Valued When It Is Hidden
I once sat in a meeting where the team debated the right amount of “diversity” for a campaign. Yes, you read that right—there was a formula, a perfect balance we were supposed to strike. One voice suggested, “We need to show we’re fair and progressive. But not too much. We don’t want to scare people off.” Heads nodded. The air felt heavy.
Diversity is Valued When It Is Quiet
The conference room is set. Staged at the front are the diversity panel speakers. The speakers are eager, ready to tell the audience of the statistics, the data, the research and their lived experiences. Yet the moderator asks very limited questions and we understand very quickly the intent of the session. “Let’s keep it friendly. We’re here to ‘open the conversation.’ But not too much that anyone gets uncomfortable.”