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WOVEN INTO THE FIBER At a time when Black advances are being cancelled, diversity, equity, and inclusion become even more important. For Lowell Perry, Jr., bringing DEI to life has become his life’s passion.
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irst of all, we should say all the words often — Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion — rather than being so quick to abbreviate. Why? Because oftentimes, when we reduce a thought or idea to an acronym, the words individually and collectively tend to lose some of their power and meaning. That then leads to a misunderstanding of what it all means.” In this day and age of communication shorthand, it’s easy to lose clarity around just about anything — and diversity, equity, and inclusion is suffering from that. It’s a hot topic that’s fomenting a good deal of argument and upset. Many groups, businesses, and corporations are seeking answers and more concrete solutions. Lowell Perry, Jr. has worn the hat of Chief Diversity Officer for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America, and now the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. As a business owner and consultant, he’s been in the trenches working with companies and organizations for many years helping bring understanding and a shift in culture. “I’ve traveled around the country not to simply talk about what it means to have inclusive practices — but rather to impress upon people and organizations the importance of developing a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion — because it’s not a box-checking exercise. What I want to know is does a company walk its
28 AUGUST 2023 / CODE M
Written by DAVID CHRISTEL David has been ghostwriting books for well-known people since 1995. He is also the author of Married Men Coming Out: The Ultimate Guide to Becoming the Man You Were Born to Be.
talk? How do we become more responsible as corporate citizens when looking at a more inclusive culture?” Lowell has found that this subject has become a critical piece in our lives both personally and professionally. With so much social and political hyperbole surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion, confusion has set in that’s pushed people to extremes on all sides. Most vocal are the head-in-the-sand naysayers trying to give it a bad name, to politicize and weaponize it in order to attain or maintain power, control, and authority over others. It’s causing our country to backslide. “What we need to understand is that we have created a caste system in America,” Lowell explained. He has found that the idea of inclusivity truly scares people who don’t think in terms of gaining something, but instead losing something be it status, power, wealth, position, etc. Yet, he feels the word “inclusivity” is the fulcrum of this triad in that when there is inclusivity, diversity follows. “It’s not diversity for diversity’s sake, it’s being inclusive, and at least giving people an opportunity to be engaged, to be involved, be heard, be treated with the proper respect that we all should get as citizens, and as human beings. We must be even more intentional with solutions around becoming a more inclusive society. And until we are truly an inclusive society, we’ll never be a perfect union. We need to be able to put in place opportunities for all people with equitable opportunities to pursue and achieve the American Dream.”