When companies began pushing their diversity, equality, and inclusion - or DEI - programs, it seemed that white corporate America was FINALLY getting it. Black folks were finally going to be on track to experience a better workplace.
It turns out that these companies are still missing the mark entirely.
These programs have done a mediocre job of adding more Black leaders into the mix. But most Black workers - nearly three-quarters of us - work the front lines. And front-line Black employees don’t see the benefits of these DEI initiatives.
Diversity numbers are up but not where it matters; career growth. We’re still less likely to earn an increase in rank or promotion in position even with all of these DEI pushes. Though we make up 17% of hourly employees at most prominent companies, only 9% of us will see upward mobility.
The equality and inclusion factors don’t fare much better. Many of these programs aren’t doing what they should be - making front-line employees feel valued, equal, or included. And often, these programs backfire and cause more issues than problem correction.
White corporate America takes the hear, see, speak no evil approach to DEI and puts a shiny bow on things to hand to us as though they’re doing us a favor by being equitable. The problem is, they’re thinking about putting us in a box instead of breaking down its walls to help us grow.