Procurement decision makers need to listen more to the challenges and barriers faced by historically marginalized suppliers rather than focusing on teaching them how to fit into their processes. An analysis that asks who is harmed by this policy and who benefits can uncover inequities. Justice-centered procurement policies will benefit all suppliers — not just us small Black-owned businesses.
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The proliferation of social media and the ease of access has elevated and spread the voices of historically marginalized communities. People are able to tell their stories and be heard more easily than ever before. The downside is that stories of hatred, violence, bigotry, racism, sexism, and lies are also elevated and spread.
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Employee surveys are focused on telling a quantitative story. However, there is also a qualitative story beyond the numbers. But be sure it is accurate and fosters a culture of growth in transparency, judgment, and action that centers justice.
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Without the stories behind the data, we use our own limited lens to draw conclusions. “We did not hire more BIPOC into leadership because there is a lack of qualified candidates” tells a very different story from “We did not look in the right places” or “we did not acknowledge our own biases and criteria derived from a dominant culture mindset.”
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The educational attainment data will tell us the number of advanced degrees earned and, as justification to pursue a doctorate, try to correlate it with higher earnings and lower unemployment. But the story behind the numbers sheds light on the why. Why are Black women pursuing doctorate degrees?
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What goes into differentiating “good” from “bad” in this binary conception of immigrants? Why are some perceived as “different?” Is it the fact that he is educated? Or that he speaks with no accent? Is it because he is working in a career that most consider “respectable?”
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I hope that I create new experiences and truths by challenging practices that are commonly accepted yet have served some communities so faithfully while harming others. May we all experience the change via the challenges we need. I acknowledge the power of the story and look forward to sharing mine and hearing from others.
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Numbers are reliable and can tell you a lot. But they can also be manipulated and twisted to tell a false story by the person or entity using them. If you see an organization boasting about the success of diversity hiring efforts, it might be worth questioning why there was a need for diversity hiring efforts in the first place.
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Leaving oppression out of the conversation around sexual assault is not the answer. We can’t keep treating the problem like it is in a silo. Prevention through liberation is the key to ending violence in our communities.
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I lost my fiancé to COVID-19 in April 2020. The death count numbers were shared on a nightly news channel. People were relegated to just a number! Who were these people? Did they have families? What were their ages? What happened? Was their experience like my beloved one’s? But most importantly: What were their stories, behind all of these other attributes? The nameless faces haunted me at night.
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When looking at recent headlines regarding the LGBTQ+ community, it may look like we are alive and thriving with record numbers of representation and historic milestones. These headlines and statistics don’t share the full story.
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On paper, this organization was excited to interview me — a multiracial immigrant who grew up and still resides in the community and identifies with key stakeholders. However, in the interview, I could sense that they were disappointed because I may not have appeared Black or Brown enough for them.
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