J Y Provocative Question # 24:  Is diversity required to achieve inclusivity? Or is inclusivity required to achieve diversity? Or is there a different relationship between diversity and inclusivity?

If one were to scratch their head to determine whether inclusion is necessary to achieve diversity, or is diversity required to achieve inclusion, it sounds like flipping a coin to choose which route to go to achieve the outcome that you’d get.  

Well, what is the goal? I suppose the goal is that people no matter what their creed, color, or sexual orientation, they can have the opportunity to go where they want to go, attend any institution, live where they want to live, work where they want without prejudice.

But sadly this notion is only possible in a perfect world, and the perfect world only exists in the hearts and imagination of impressionable people.   

Take for instance, a nation like America. The nation is completely diverse, yet it has a history of a lack of inclusion. A policy called “separate but equal.” Codified laws of segregation famously known as “Jim Crow,” laws of blatant exclusion such as the “Chinese exclusion act.” So, you see just because we have diversity it doesn’t mean that there is inclusion.

Since there can be a lack of inclusion where there is diversity, then it means that having diversity is required to have inclusion.

The argument is that why should people be forced to mingle with people who don’t want them around. While others will say that separate isn’t equal and that everyone should be treated equally.  

If you look at it this way, everyone pays taxes, and why should one group of taxpayers be the ones to enjoy the full potential of benefits that the nation has to offer, while taxpayers belonging to another group cannot.

There were some programs created to break the glass ceiling. Programs such as “Affirmative Action (AA)” and Diversity, Equality, Inclusion (DEI) policies. This is because it was no secret that certain people were froze out of certain industries, schools, other institutions and business opportunities etc.  

Programs such as AA and DEI were suppose to put those qualified individuals into the industry, institution or business where the door is closed preventing them from entering under normal circumstances.

Many places of employment, schools and other institutions have become more diverse because of those programs. But, nowadays there have been a lot of push back those who cannot benefit from those type of programs feel that they are being subjected to discrimination.

Their argument doesn’t hold water, especially since those who cannot benefit from those programs belong to the group that locked out the other groups that are the recipients of those programs out of attending the institution, or opportunities that they enjoy.   

Unfortunately, the AA program has been discontinued, and many universities have dropped the DEI policies. This is going to lead to less inclusion, and when there is less inclusion there will be less diversity. It won’t be evident at first, but the changes to less inclusion and diversity will gradually take place.

This goes to show that there is a relationship between inclusion and diversity in this instance. But the big question is why the group who the recipients of programs are such are as AA allow it to be discontinued.