Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
Fredrick Douglass
I have often seen this quote used in the motivation of those working to advance issues of social justice and combating inequality. This past week has shown me it is also a reminder that those who have benefited from positions of privilege and systems of oppression will not give up opportunities to claw back their power and re-inflict suffering on marginalized communities.
Unfortunately, and yet predictably over the past couple years, we have seen many companies roll back their DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) commitments and structures that they rolled out following the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. Gratefully, we have seen a few corporations continue to stand by their efforts. I do not base my hope for the advancement of DEI work on companies whose core driving principle of success is measured on a balance sheet of profit and loss. It is too easy for these companies to lay aside initiatives that they cannot directly tie into revenue streams or tax-reducing write-offs.
I strongly believe in and will continue to work to support the efforts of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in our public institutions. Our governmental agencies need to continue to be cornerstone institutions of this work. Corporations are at the service of their customers and shareholders, but our public institutions carry a responsibility to all of our citizens.
We must continue our work on the local, regional, and state level now that the current federal administration is immediately working to suppress recognition of the full scope of human identity. Our workplaces thrive when our staff feel safe, valued, and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work without fear of judgment, ridicule, or discrimination. When employees feel this sense of belonging and respect, it positively influences their interactions with the public. This, in turn, enhances the quality of service we provide to every member of our community. Whether someone walks into a park, library, or school building, they can expect to be met with openness, understanding, and a genuine commitment to inclusivity.
This work will not be easy and must be approached with serious intentionality. It will take time for this work to truly take root and grow to become part of an organization’s nature. Along the way on this journey, many people will become uncomfortable as work is done to address sensitive issues, including ethnicity, race, gender, religion, sexuality, physical and cognitive abilities.
As President Lyndon Johnson said, “It is not enough just to open the gates of opportunity. All our citizens must have the ability to walk through the gates. This is the next and more profound stage of the battle for civil rights. We seek not just freedom but opportunity. We seek not just legal equity but human ability, not just equality as a right and a theory but equality as a fact and equality as a result.”
Matthew Fruth
Oak Park