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I'm very happy that the DEI program for the company I work for is about so much more than race.It's not dismissing achievements. It's the fact that initiatives like affirmative action and DEI are going to raise questions in peoples' minds about why Minority Person A is in their position. Are they there because they are the best and most qualified or are they there because of race?
Some people will say it's irrelevant if Minority Person A is in their position because of race, because of the history of oppression, poor educational opportunities, etc.. and that's fine, but there's nothing racist about making logical connections.
It's about culture and understanding, inclusiveness and acceptance. In the years of DEI initiatives, I've been a part of I can't honestly recall one of them being about race.
Many of the DEI groups we sponsor cross racial boundaries.
An in all of the interviews I've led and all of the jobs I've filled, I've never once been instructed to consider race, religion, gender as deciding factors.
I work with people from all over the world, every day at my company.
I've also noticed that, from my experience, the people who are making the statements about a person being hired to fill a quota or based on anything other than qualifications, are normally low performers who seem to have inadequacy issues. But that is just my experience.
Also, I have no issue if a DEI program is questioned as some companies are doing. There are often bad actors that hide under an acceptable title or program but don't actually do what they outwardly proclaim. In cases like that it is better for the overall DEI movement to help ensure that the programs are aligned with the mission.
But, as I'm seeing DEI being used in the political race, it is being used in a racist way. If Kamala Harris was white, we wouldn't be hearing the same rhetoric about her being a DEI hire.