Comments Not Needed (PDF)

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UNTOUCHD | ISSUE 02

Commen

nts Not Needed
W R I T T E N BY K I M C R AY TON

Just shut the f**k up…is what I find
that I am saying to myself more often
than I care to admit as I read the posted comments to many conversations
related to diversity and inclusion.

As I read your words, I
empathize that you may be feeling
under attack, that the world as you’ve
known it has turned its back on you…
but so what. What you are experiencing is only a small portion of what
individuals in underrepresented and
marginalized communities have been
experiencing both in and out of tech.
Is it fair? Hell no! Are you personally
to blame? Maybe not. But what is true
is that the internet has given power to
the powerless and voice to the mute
and there’s no putting that genie back
in the bottle.

In your efforts to refute what
the writer, speaker, etc. is saying, what
you end up doing is demonstrating
and validating the very behaviors that
have been pointed out as barriers to
entry for many. I know that we seem
to live in an environment that rewards
the individual with the loudest voice
but diversity and inclusion issues
need a more diplomatic touch.

And let me stop here to make
this point, diversity and inclusion

is not a one way street. You are not
doing members of underrepresented
and marginalized communities a
favor. Economically they are needed
in order for products and services to
be successful in a global economic
marketplace…PERIOD! The narrow
perspective of the few is no longer
sufficient enough to grab the attention
of a large enough customer base that
equity and debt investors require for
you to have that big exit you’ve been
dreaming about.

As I’m known to say, it’s time
for you to “become comfortable with
being uncomfortable” because until
you are able to hear what is being
communicated to you as someones
experience, we will all continue to
struggle with these issues. And it
starts with understanding that this
isn’t about you. It’s about the individuals sharing their story. And let’s face
it, people from these communities
have had years of experience listening
to you and biting their tongues, so I
think that you can take it in order for
us all to move through this to a space
that supports us all, if only because it
makes economic sense.

I am not saying that you
have to agree or that you shouldn’t

communicate your thoughts about
diversity and inclusion topics. Rather
what I’m saying is be aware that in
this space you are not the expert, nor
does your opinion have the weight in
these communities that it has in others. Learn how to become a student
of the world, meaning someone who’s
curious and respectful about the
experiences of others, even when we
don’t understand or agree with them.
What society will tolerate as acceptable behavior is shifting. Those once
thought of as having or adding little
value are taking a stand and taking
their place as change agents and you
can “become comfortable with being
uncomfortable” until you find your
new comfort zone or expend energy
fighting a battle that you ultimately
will not win.

So just shut the f**k up and
instead of fighting for your limitations,
learn to embrace the new norm where
your voice and opinion is not the only
one that matters.

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