I have been thinking a lot about diversity this past month (February) - as part of Black History month. Just because my youngest two children are black - doesn’t mean that I have any insight into the black experience : By familial association I have no special insight on what it means to be black. Though by proximity I’ve had more opportunity to observe 2nd hand and having 2 children who are black does give me an extra special reason to ensure that I develop a diverse perspective.
This past month I listened to a bunch of Malcom X’s speeches (which you can find and listen to on YouTube). Malcolm was a charismatic and powerful speaker, who could be galvanizing and provocative in his choice of words. One thing that stood out to me from many of his speeches was his emphasis on what he called Black Nationalism - but which might also be characterized of Black’s recognizing that as a minority within a system - that they should operate collectively :
“So the economic philosophy of black nationalism means in every church, in every civic organization, in every fraternal order, it's time now for our people to become conscious of the importance of controlling the economy of our community. If we own the stores, if we operate the businesses, if we try and establish some industry in our own community, then we're developing to the position where we are creating employment for our own kind. Once you gain control of the economy of your own community, then you don't have to picket and boycott and beg some [one] downtown for a job in his business.” - The Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X April 3, 1964
And yet this collective action - this black nationalism did not mean that separation or segregation was OK :
“So we will work with you against the segregated school system because it's criminal, because it is absolutely destructive, in every way imaginable, to the minds of the children who have to be exposed to that type of crippling education.” - The Ballot or the Bullet
There is inherent tension between these two ideas : gathering among commonalities and ensuring integrated diversity. There is gravity and implicit attraction of an individual to the group they identify with and/or feel comfortable with. This is a natural attraction to being comfortable with that which is known to us : be it familiarity that comes from common language, culture, gender or racial association and familiarity. Often in discussions about why we have attrition of black employees at Amazon - one of the reasons cited is that they don’t see other blacks in the teams around them.
Ironically if we let individuals' desired group identification solely drive who is in our group membership we will in fact not have diversity but homogeneity. And it is incumbent upon those in the majority to do the intellectual work necessary to expand their consciousness sufficiently to recognize that they must work to make room for and increase diversity. To proactively encourage, to open up, to seek out, to invite and to include those that are not like them. To promote diversity without division and variety while maintaining equity.
For too many years - the majority has not recognized the privilege of their majority position. While not an excuse, majority can create an accepted normality that is often not questioned or examined, and this majority view point it is perpetuated in culture and education and reflected in language and history. Too often room is made in the majority only when the minority fight for representation : be it woman’s suffrage or black civil rights. When you’re in the majority - everything feels normal - as cool as a cucumber and as right as rain - it’s only when you switch roles to a minority that you can “feel” the stark difference, like having your oxygen cut off - suddenly and only then do you realize that you took for granted being in the majority, like taking for granted air only when the oxygen is cut off.
So while I can’t and won’t ever understand what it means to be black; or what it’s like to be a minority within my majority - I can make an effort to understand the black experience. I can study. I can listen. I can learn. And I can make an effort to create a diverse workplace, and I work at creating special focus outside the majority on increasing opportunities to hire and develop the best at Amazon - from all perspectives - and especially an extra effort in areas where we are under-represented. That doesn’t mean we hire someone because they are in a minority, but it does mean we look with more effort to find minority candidates that we can hire when they meet our qualifications.
I want my workplace to reflect the diversity of the country, the community and the family that I live in. I want everyone and my children to have a better future than the days that came before.
“Tomorrow belongs only to the people who prepare for it today.” - Malcolm X June 28, 1964