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> So are you suggesting that some poor people have the wrong interests on certain issues and they need to fix that? Which issues specifically? Here I meant tha
by kenjackson 5y ago
> So are you suggesting that some poor people have the wrong interests on certain issues and they need to fix that? Which issues specifically?
Here I meant that often times issues are raised specifically as race issues, when really you can make the issue more inclusive and get better traction. For example, Black Lives Matter. While I can understand wanting to make the focus on race, it is hard to get traction on that beyond lip service. But if you make it about police accountability in general -- you suddenly find that you get much broader support across the board. And while there may be some nuance that you can't capture with this, you'll find that you'll still make more overall progress even as it applies to Blacks.
The same applies for just about any issue related to poverty. If you make it about race, it becomes divisive. If you make it about just helping anyone in poverty then it has much more general appeal.
Raising all boats is important. It's also important, and maybe this is where DEI's most important role can be, to track that some classes of boats aren't being systemically left behind -- and adjust policy, not to benefit specific groups, but to make sure all groups are benefitting (within some degree of proportionality).
- nradov 5y agoShould companies give hiring preferences to candidates who currently have a low income? Or who grew up in low income households? Or come from certain Zip codes? I agree we should provide people with greater opportunities, but as a practical matter what are you proposing that employers actually do?
- kenjackson 5y agoI don’t think employers should do any of the sort. I think employers should not discriminate in their hiring (based on race, gender, etc…) and be mindful that they’re not doing so. One of the most important thing companies can do for DEI is pay their fair and expected tax burden.
- nullc 5y agoFor example, some well known tech companies focus their hiring on people who have graduated varrious highly exclusive institutions. Yet few people get into those schools unless they came from at least somewhat affluent families. Make sure you offer interviews to people at least whos professional experience appears to justify it, regardless of if they went to a megabucks school. Doing so can also help the racial diversity of the candidate pool some without introducing any racist criteria simply because it reduced a form of non-racial discrimination that has a high racial correlation.