Why corporate diversity statements are backfiring — Podcast
by Dannielle Piper, Associate Producer, Don't Call Me Resilient, The Conversation and Vinita Srivastava, Host + Producer, Don't Call Me Resilient | Senior Editor, Culture + Society
Professor Sonia Kang discusses the pitfalls of tokenism and how institutions uphold institutional racism. She also shares some tips on how to thrive in the workspace.
It’s been two years since corporations jumped on the diversity bandwagon after the tragic murder of George Floyd. They spoke about anti-Black racism and asserted their solidarity but promises are different than action. (Christina Wocintechchat/Unsplash)
Equity, diversity, inclusion are buzzwords that may evoke social change, but for some they conjure empty promises on a glossy corporate brochure or statement at the bottom of a job listing.
How do institutions make actual change? Join us on this episode of Don’t Call Me Resilient as we speak with Professor Sonia Kang to discuss the pitfalls of tokenism and how institutions uphold institutional racism. She also shares some tips on how to thrive in the workspace.
In 2020, when Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd, worldwide protests against anti-Black police brutality prompted corporations to rush to address racism. They put out statements of solidarity and in some cases, affirmations of their commitment to anti-racism in the workplace.
But University of Toronto Prof. Kang says that without action-plans to back up those ideas, those statements can cause harm. They can lead to greater blocks to success for racialized employees and job seekers.
Join us and listen to Don’t Call Me Resilient as we speak with Prof. Kang to discuss her work and personal experiences. Kang is a Canada Research Chair in Identity, Diversity and Inclusion and host of the podcast For the Love of Work.
From performative allyship in the workplace to resumé whitening practices in job applications to the grey area in being a “diversity hire” or the first racialized employee, explore the many facets of tokenism and how we can challenge and reshape the institutional practices that keep racialized employees from thriving in the workplace.
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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
