DIVERSITY. EQUITY. INCLUSION (DEI)

 

Photo Credit Dwight Carter

According to Google: DEI stands for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which was defined as follows: Diversity is the presence of differences in dimensions of human identity. 

Our president has removed DEI guidelines from the FAA following the horrible collision between an American Airlines plane and a military helicopter. Our president blamed DEI for the tragedy.

I fear our president will abolish the DEI standards altogether.   What will happen to the knowledge and unique qualities people with diverse backgrounds and skills bring to the workforce? What will happen to fairness when a woman applies for a job and is not hired for said job just because she is a woman?

What will happen to those of us with disabilities? Will we be considered for employment?  Will children with disabilities cease to have the same educational opportunities as their able-bodied peers?
Will the melting pot that was America be no more? Will it be replaced by people who all look, act, and think the same way?

I have been thinking of the words of Maya Angelou. My favorite poem of hers is STILL I RISE. 

What Ms. Angelo is saying to me when I read her words is simple.

WHATEVER OTHERS DO TO KEEP YOU DOWN, TO SILENCE YOU. YOU WILL PERSEVERE. YOU WILL RISE.