Expecting Freedom (and justice) FOR ALL?

Don't let "Independence Day" stand for hypocrisy

Hello!

If you’re an old-school Rework Work follower, DEI@Work isn’t new to you. But if you’re a newbie from Substack, then you may not be familiar with our newsletter. This summer, we’re transitioning some of our content and moving things around a little. Most things will look familiar and a few things might be tweaked. Regardless, the same great content will continue.

We recently recognized Juneteenth, and tomorrow is the Fourth of July, both freedom-oriented holidays that commemorate significant events in U.S. history.

For many, however, there’s a disconnect between the freedoms that were afforded on paper in the past and those that are actually enjoyed today. For example, innumerable studies have shown that women and underrepresented minorities continue to be paid less than their male, caucasian counterparts across a variety of industries. So, if all are created equal, but the means by which we can pursue life, liberty, and happiness are not, can we truly lay claim to being “the land of the free?”

Please don’t misunderstand, I am thankful to have called the U.S. home for more than thirty years, but how many of our patriotic sayings have become hollow shells of their original promise? It reminds me of the companies that spent so many resources on advertising and performative allyship strategies following George Floyd’s murder in 2020. Outwardly, they fervently supported the Black community and called for an end to systemic racism. Internally, however, they failed to make lasting, impactful changes within their own organizations to ensure inclusion and equity for their employees. This led to DEI initiatives that ended before they even began.

And now, those hollow gestures are being erased entirely. The recent backlash against DEI is not a quiet retreat, it’s an aggressive purge. Trump’s executive orders have so far dismantled federal DEI programs, banned inclusive language, and ousted staff under the guise of cost-cutting, sparking a domino effect in Republican-led states that are banning DEI offices, trainings, and even scholarships. Schools, universities, and public institutions are being forced to abandon any effort at inclusion, while corporations scramble to rebrand DEI as “culture” or “belonging” to avoid political heat. Even the Church of England has slashed over half its racial justice funding. This isn’t a course correction. It’s a coordinated erasure, designed to reinforce the very systems these initiatives aimed to challenge.

We have to stop saying one thing and then doing something else. If you’re a company leader, take a hard look at how you’re leading your organization. Where is your leadership lending lip service where there should be substantive change? Are there inequities in your recruiting and hiring processes that diminish opportunities for women and underrepresented communities? Do you even know if your current team feels seen, included, and valued at work?

I believe it was Maya Angelou who said “no one of us can be free until everybody is free.” This Independence Day, between the barbecue and bathing suits and performative patriotism, take one step to set your organization apart from those who are simply talking the talk when it comes to DEI. Not sure which step to take? I’d love to help you find a great place to start.

Stacey Gordon, MBA
Rework Work CEO