I’m concerned about this whole DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) backlash. Racial diversity = reality. In the US, we’re quickly approaching 50/50 white/non-white. In other words, diversity IS.  

A lot of white people don’t want school curriculums to include Indigenous or Black American history. They say it’s about the excesses of critical race theory, but really, I think it’s about anger, the fear of getting knocked off the pedestal, and shame. However, failing to teach the history of all our people is like failing to teach math. Incomplete. 

We need to get over our resistance to diversity. 

Also, there’s much more to diversity than racial differences. 1 in 8 Americans has a disability. Two-thirds of American wealth is owned by 10% of the population. 1 in 25 Americans is a sociopath. (Chances are they’re quite charming.) Only one-third of Americans say they’re happy. 

Diversity just is. Why don’t we embrace it? Reach across divides? Make having an open, generous spirit a practice instead of retreating to our silos?  

We expect our children and grandchildren to be kind, play fair, and include those who are left out. Why don’t we expect that of adults?