White Men: we need to step up and speak up – Now. There are people who are promoting the idea that Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion efforts (DEI) are all about hiring women and people of color who are not qualified for their roles. This is inaccurate and is creating discord in our society. DEI is about fairness. And it is about making sure everyone feels … [Read more...] about Needed Now: Racial Justice Accomplices
Equity
“Collective Merit”
Very few of us are hired by our employers as “individual performers.” Most of us are part of a team – a “collective.” With this in mind, when I have hired people in the past, I think about their individual merit and what they will contribute to the collective. Last semester, I provided students in one of my classes with the following scenario and questions: The Board … [Read more...] about “Collective Merit”
You Can Be Someone’s Luck
My blog from last week explained that I believe that we are each in our current life situation totally due to luck. Please check it out if you have not read it already. Here is some really good news about the role that luck plays in our lives . . . You Can Be Someone’s Luck. No, you can’t change the circumstances that they were born into. But, there are many ways … [Read more...] about You Can Be Someone’s Luck
That’s Me
Following years of reflecting on the matter, I believe that we are each in our current life situation totally due to luck. I am lucky I was born a white male in the USA. I am lucky that I was born to my parents who – though not well off financially – were college educated and caring, loving people. I am lucky to have been born with a healthy body. I am lucky to have … [Read more...] about That’s Me
Traffic Stops & White Privilege
This is a true story. A few years back I was driving home one evening after teaching a graduate class at the University of Maryland. It was a November evening at about 10:15 p.m. and I was less than a mile from home when a police car appeared in my rearview mirror with its lights flashing. ME: I was confident I had done nothing wrong. I thought “Hmmm, maybe my … [Read more...] about Traffic Stops & White Privilege