Do No Harm, Diversity Explained, was inspired by Hippocrates of the Epidemics’ famous quote:
Over the years, the field of diversity and inclusion has evolved to become the field of diversity and exclusion. In its early beginnings, practitioners (diversity officers) sought to promote unity and ingrate all members of society. Today, the field has been hijacked by practitioners seeking to capitalize on labels to create a group think ideology that divides supporters and skeptics into the in-group and out-group.
Inspired by Hippocrates of the Epidemics' work, this blog will seek to raise standards for diversity and inclusion practitioners by promoting practices that celebrate all humans regardless of race, color, age, country of ancestral or national origin, genetic information, religion, disability status, military status, marital status, pregnancy status, political affiliation, whistleblower activity, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, gender identification/expression, or any other protected class, category, or characteristic. With that in mind, we rewrite this quote to set the tone:
The diversity and inclusion practitioner must be able to tell the antecedents, know the present, and foretell the future –must meditate on these things and have two special objects in view with regard to diversity practices; mainly to do good or to do no harm.
With a focus on the antecedents that led us to where we are today, this blog will examine current policies and will inspire practitioners to shape their work to make this world a better place for all; the skeptics and the supporters.