Power is not a new concept or item added to some individual’s ‘goals’ list.
Power has taken on many forms, including earning a degree, buying a home, owning a business, running for office and becoming part of a sector of people who enact laws, policies, and practices that harm the majority of people you do not know or advocate for — all because you have leverages that connect you to the wealthiest people in America.
These individuals do not share the same life experiences as 80% of Americans; they do not experience panicking about finding the money to pay $1,900 in rent, another $1,300 in bills, over $75 for a copay, a ride to work or how they will afford their next meal. These individuals live with the security of knowing that those issues and amounts of money are far from the top of their list of things to worry about.
However, those people cut funding for critical infrastructures that supported those communities needing resources. When demands for change, equity and support come from the people, leadership instills fear, confusion and oversimplified examples that create misinformed narratives. They begin to point fingers at the other side.
Let’s be clear — the other side needs a new strategy and new leaders as well — hoping that shifting the blame will provide the people with a sigh of relief. And sadly enough, it works for many as a pacifier with the promise of a meal. I have witnessed and heard anti-DEI rhetoric being incorrect and lies being accepted, although facts were presented. Quickly, I was reminded that we do not fact-check enough; we just believe — especially if it’s an entertaining distraction by those with power.
Diversity, equity and inclusion have been weaponized due to tenants of white supremacy.
Media platforms reported that diversity, equity and inclusion were used to unfairly elevate Black people. They claimed it allowed immigrants to steal jobs when the administration, an overwhelmingly large number of people voted for, cut jobs, funding and entire sectors.
Once they realized the impact of their choice, an outpour of confusion surfaced. Some individuals denounced their affiliation with the party, others begged for the current administration to revisit the cuts as they are now impacted and do not believe this was the plan of the 47th president of North America.
However, the entire election campaign was situated around these same cuts. Some cries on the internet state that they knew these cuts and challenges could happen. They just did not think it would happen to them. All these ideologies, rationales and excuses are steeped in white supremacy. Remember, in our current society, you do not have to be white to benefit from the supremacy system. Below are some of the tenants defined by Tema Okun’s research on the topic:
- defensiveness (i.e., criticizing someone in power is deemed inappropriate; it is challenging to present new or challenging ideas).
- quantity over quality (i.e., measurable things are most valued).
- the idea there is ‘only one right way’ (i.e., thinking there is one right way to do things, and that people will learn and adopt it).
- paternalism (i.e., those with power feel capable of making decisions for and in the interest of those without power; those with power do not view or think it is important or necessary to understand the views/experiences of those they are making decisions for).
- power hoarding (i.e., those with power feel threatened when change is suggested and consider this a judgment of them, the assumption they have everyone’s best interests at heart, and those wanting change are ill-informed, emotional, or inexperienced).
- fear of open conflict (i.e., when someone raises an issue, the response is to blame that person rather than look at the issue or the root causes).
- individualism (i.e., a desire for recognition and credit, competition valued over collaboration).
- either/or thinking (i.e., oversimplifying complex things, increasing urgency that we must do this or that without time to consider a middle ground or another way).
Look and sound familiar? The common theme I deduced from the aforementioned list is that each tenant allows power to reign and gatekeep who has access because there is resistance to change or evolution. How do we allow programs, practices and policies to not evolve when our world and history suggest evolution is inevitable?
This is all about power.
How does the top percentage of millionaires and billionaires know what the median household eighty-thousandaire lacks or needs? And how does the same group convince those outside of their wealthy tax bracket to believe that tax cuts and defunding programs essential to education, healthcare, nonprofits and communities are what will make America great again? Where is a pinch of common sense?
Take a moment to reflect on why these resources were created and how they are disproportionately unavailable to communities with large populations of Blacks, Latinos, poor whites, elderly, sick, veterans, those with limited access to education and individuals with disabilities.
Is this a coincidence? No. The actions towards these groups are intentional. These groups and those who advocate alongside them have fought for equality for decades. My grandfather, who we lost on June 3, 2024, was 83 and told me these same stories about fighting for rights and resources since the 1940s.
All the laws and policies being passed, signed and enforced aim to strip away what those before us fought hard to get—and if we are honest, those systems still needed a lot of work. Now, the absence of these resources is waking up some individuals while reminding others to continue fighting for what is humane and not upholding supremacy.
No matter how you define your power, take the time to reflect and redress it to improve society.
Take care,
#DEIHomegirl
