11/18/2024

The Diversity Lesson from the 2024 Election Isn't What You Think

Inclusion isn’t a given despite the population's growing diversity

The election serves as a reminder that building truly inclusive spaces — where everyone belongs, thrives and is seen — is a marathon, not a sprint. It's been a hard time for me personally, and while I'm forever an optimist, it's been very difficult to fully understand the choice that nearly 73 million Americans recently made.

The 2024 election also heightened many of the existing tensions around diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace. Against the backdrop of individuals calling for the rollback of corporate DEI initiatives, Vice President Harris faced a number of racially charged and unfair criticisms, often labeled a “DEI candidate" despite her years of political experience. These unfounded criticisms made their way into the workplace, where talented individuals of color were unfairly scrutinized and dismissed as "DEI hires" rather than recognized for their contributions, skills and experience.

For years, many have believed that 2045, the year in which people of color are estimated to be the majority of the U.S. population, will be a turning point for DE&I in America. But the results of the 2024 election show that people of color are still evaluated through a biased lens rather than acknowledged for the diverse perspectives we bring.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Fast Company.