Diversity, Equity, Inclusion. Now More Than Ever. | From the Editor

Given the current backlash, with anti-DEI legislation and sentiment festering, we risk losing ground on fairness and equality when we need it most. 

 

 

Diversity, equity, and inclusion is in the crosshairs.

Incredulously, right-wing pundits fingered DEI measures for causing the devastating fires in Los Angeles [at the fore, when I first penned this piece two weeks ago 🙃]. No matter the effects of climate change, including months-long drought conditions preceding the history-­making disaster. Before that, DEI was blamed for the New Year’s Day terror attack in New Orleans. And so on.

[Since my editorial went to press January 16 for the Feb print magazine, President Donald Trump has eliminated DEI programs from the federal government by executive order. The latest cut to diversity initiatives in the military occurred January 29, also by executive order.]

Such blatantly false claims can be dispelled with accurate information. But they underscore a larger and persistent attack on diversity, which obfuscates the proven benefits of fostering diverse, equitable, and inclusive organizations.

Interested in meeting customer need or attracting and retaining the best staff? How about ensuring your relevance and competitive edge in an increasingly diverse world?

In a “complex and uncertain competitive landscape, diversity matters even more,” states a December 2023 report from management consulting firm McKinsey. Those findings present “a strong business case for ethnic diversity,” with a 39 percent increased likelihood of outperformance for companies in the top quartile of ethnic representation within executive teams versus the bottom quartile (up from 15 percent in 2015).

Meanwhile, companies with women in leadership positions greater than 30 percent are significantly more likely to financially outperform those with 30 percent or fewer.

Alongside financial health, a holistic concept of institutional success foregrounds the full spectrum of an organization’s stakeholders—from employees, customers, and partners to local communities. Diversity, equity, and inclusion is key to “stakeholder capitalism,” which emphasizes long-term value creation for the greater good of society and the global economy.

DEI, done right

Current DEI measures have come up short when it comes to meaningful results, say experts, including Lily Zheng, whom I spoke with for an earlier essay (see “Got Values? Then Live Them. It’s time for publishers to operationalize their ideals”).

Given the current backlash, with anti-DEI legislation and sentiment festering—the president of the United States leading the way—we risk losing ground on fairness and equality when we need it most. This despite that most Americans support DEI measures, according to a recent Washington Post/Ipsos poll.

Let’s shed the acronym for a moment.

“Diversity is an outcome. Equity is the path to get there. Inclusion ensures we travel that path together,” explain Wajahat Ali and Yusuf Zakir, both attorneys and writers, in a January Guardian piece.

“Diversity represents varied identities and differences, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, disability and veteran status. That means white people, Black people, straight people, gay people, rich people, poor people, and more.”

“Equity is the allocation of resources and opportunities and the elimination of barriers towards ­equality. The concept of equity acknowledges that there is not a level playing field. Inclusion is creating an environment where everyone is welcome, ­respected, ­supported and valued.”

There’s been progress in publishing, as Kara ­Newhouse reports in our cover story ("Gaining Ground Diversity in Publishing"). Andrea Davis Pinkney, executive editor for trade publishing at Scholastic, cautions that true change will require sustained commitment.

The mighty few of us—people of color and those representing marginalized communities in visible and leadership positions—have a unique responsibility in this effort. So do our employers.

 

Pictured: Participants at a 2010 Naturalization ceremony at Grand Canyon National Park. NPS photo by Michael Quinn.

 

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Kathy Ishizuka

Kathy Ishizuka is editor in chief of School Library Journal.

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