In life, I try to stay attuned to the whispers of change. Sometimes, change is like an approaching storm—you see the dark clouds gathering, feel the wind shift, and know that something big is coming. Other times, it’s like the slow erosion of a shoreline—each wave seems insignificant on its own, but over time, the landscape is reshaped entirely. Whether sudden or gradual, whispers of change are always there, guiding us toward what’s next.
When we ignore these whispers, change catches us off guard and we often encounter a crisis—one that I could have avoided if we had been listening.
So, why do we resist these calls for change?
It’s simple; we get busy, comfortable, and ignore how we truly feel. Change shakes the foundation of our comfort zone. Even when faced with a crisis, we sometimes double down, clinging to the very things we should be letting go of.
I see this pattern playing out in the field of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). DEI efforts in corporate America started with good intentions but were often rooted in flawed approaches. In the 1980s, consultants frequently used shame as a tool to push white individuals to participate, and diversity initiatives often excluded them altogether. This history left behind baggage, and today, that baggage contributes to resistance.
Many missed the whispers from this baggage, warning that resistance and change was coming.
The resistance facing DEI today is more than discomfort over changing terminology or power dynamics—it’s a crisis forcing us to evolve.
