What I Want to Be When I Grow Up…
- KDJP
- Jan 8, 2018
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 3, 2020
Well, it is 2018. What can I write about regarding leadership, diversity and inclusion, and team development in 2018? There is a lot that can be written about regarding these topics. Last year, I published my book, You’re Not the Boss of Me! A Guide to Leadership Development, which focused on leadership but my blogs focused more on diversity and inclusion. This year, I will publish my second book, currently untitled, on diversity and inclusion in the summer. I cannot separate leadership from diversity and inclusion (D&I) as the challenges of D&I start with leadership.
As I look at my corner of the world through pointed research, scanning social media, television, movies, and the like, I have found that diversity and inclusion are top issues to those who are underrepresented. What do I mean? There are a large majority of Caucasian men (and women) who do not see D&I as an issue because they see a reflection of themselves in various industries, movies, television, etc. These men and women do not see an issue because D&I is not an issue for them. However, D&I is important for everyone. What we see and hear shape our thoughts and opinions. It is vitally important that what is being forecasted to shape our world is a proper representation of the world.
Let’s take a moment and look at what the majority of African American young men want to be when they grow up…basketball or football players. No, in general there is nothing wrong with wanting to play for the NBA or NFL. However, there is a deeper issue here. These young men see these NBA/NFL players and the money they make. They see individuals who look like them. Individuals with similar life stories and want to strive towards similar goals.
What if we changed the narrative and depicted African American owners of the various teams, African American entrepreneurs, IT professionals, or college professors? Would we then see a shift in the “what I want to be when I grow up” responses? Yes!
It is hard for those who are largely represented to understand the plight of those who are underrepresented. I am now seeing a slight shift in understanding representation. Fathers who thought they would have sons to carry on the name and business, have had daughters who will carry on the name and business and the fathers realize the gender struggle. Parents who have adopted children of a different race understanding that the world is going to see their precious baby not as the wonderful child they know and love but maybe as someone not worthy of equal rights. Grandparents are understanding that their bi-racial grandbabies may be treated differently because they look different from their grandparents or their mother/father.
Representation is the cornerstone of diversity and inclusion. As leaders in organizations (and entrepreneurs) it is vital that we acknowledge and work towards diversity and inclusion. Whether we like it or not, we are an internet/social media society. We do not know who is watching us and the decisions we make. What girl or boy, African American, Asian American, Native American, Caucasian, Bi-racial, is watching what you are doing and the decisions you are making. What you present and represent can make a difference in a child saying, “I want to be _______ when I grow up.”
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