So today I wanna talk about this idea some people throw around that diversity’s just for white folks. Like it’s some kinda charity project or box-ticking exercise. Felt kinda off to me, y’know? So I decided to really dive in and see what’s what.
First Thing I Did
I started by actually listening. Like, really listening, not just nodding along. Hit up friends from different backgrounds – talked to my Black buddy Marcus who’s a techie, my Korean neighbor Mrs. Kim who runs the laundromat, even the Syrian refugee dude Ahmed from the community center. Didn’t prep questions, just asked ’em flat out: “Does diversity actually mean anything to you?” Took notes like crazy.
What Stood Out Big Time
- Marcus laid it down: “It ain’t about charity, man. When the team’s diverse, we actually build products that don’t just work for rich tech bros.” Saw him get heated recalling when his team ignored his input on accessibility features.
- Mrs. Kim got real quiet: “If diversity mattered… maybe my shop wouldn’t have been vandalized twice last year.” She wiped her eyes. That hit different.
- Ahmed said the wildest thing: “In my tech certification class? The guys who struggled with the code? They were the only ones who’d invite me for lunch.” Showed me his class pic – almost all white guys. Pointed at the few circled faces. “These ones sat next to me.”
Started noticing a pattern. People felt diversity mattered most when it affected their ability to survive and thrive. Not abstracts. Survival.
Then I Tried Something Weird
Went out of my comfort zone. Signed up for volunteering at the food bank in a neighborhood I never go to. Helped sort cans for hours. Met this Latina single mom, Rosa. Her English was patchy, but she pointed at her kids helping stack boxes. “They see different people doing things together? That matters. Not speeches.” Simple. Brutal.
The Hardest Part? Looking Inward
Because honestly? I used to be that guy. Thought diversifying my tech meetups meant “letting in” minority folks. Felt… generous. Looking at my old tweets? Cringe. Realized diversity wasn’t some favor I was granting. Truth bomb? We all need it:
- For my kids: So they learn reality isn’t just people who look like them.
- For my business: Missed a whole market segment selling ergonomic gear until a wheelchair athlete called me out.
- For safety: Like Ahmed showed me – shared meals build shared humanity.
Diversity isn’t for “white people” like we’re handing out participation trophies. It’s the friggin’ fire exit sign for everyone when things get rough. We all breathe the same air, and when the system ignores chunks of us? The whole thing gets toxic. Yeah, white folks can coast without it. But coasting ain’t living. It’s existing on borrowed time. Changed how I hire, who I follow, how I talk to my kids. Messy? Hell yeah. Necessary? Like oxygen.