By Rita Suh, Ed.D., Co-Director of the Culture & Equity Project
Culture & Equity Project Blog
Within the past year, I’ve seen several organizations, corporations, and educational institutions claim to be committed to social justice causes and publish solidarity and inclusivity statements. (From this point forward, I use the term “organizations” to include corporations and institutions. Additionally, I am intentionally not identifying specific people or organizations.)
Unfortunately, I’ve also seen headlines and videos that expose racist and prejudiced educators and employees at several organizations whose behaviors or written documents have been recorded or leaked. When these videos are released to the public, there is a justified outcry and hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of citizens contact these organizations to demand justice and, as a result, some lose their jobs. Organizations have to mean what they say. If their action towards equity and inclusion are performative or seem to fetishize diversity, it comes off patronizing and inauthentic.
