America...Land of Oxymorons and Contradictions

All quotes derived from the article on https://civilrights.org/resource/anti-deia-eos/, ideas also supported by https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-illegal-discrimination-and-restoring-merit-based-opportunity/  and https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/ending-radical-and-wasteful-government-dei-programs-and-preferencing/

“Federal programs should serve everyone equally. The federal workforce is best able to serve our country if it reflects the full range of available talent. If the Trump administration fully implements these EOs, they will erect new barriers to federal programs and employment, making the federal government less able to meet the needs of the nation”. 

This country can be such an oxymoron. How can the leader of a nation that is deemed as the “land of the free and home of the brave” or the “melting pot” of nationalities, cultures, capabilities, dreams, passions, and pride create an order that is purposed to revoke, cease, and end values such as diversity, equal opportunity acts, and environmental justice while promoting the dismissal and disregard of race, sex/sexual preference, religion, national origin/culture, and accessibility? How does this even make sense?! How is this legal or constitutional? This country is supposed to be built on promise, inclusion, and welcoming of all people to create the powerhouse that we are to call America. But HOW?! Why should we have to fathom a reality where all are not considered, honored, or prioritized? How can people live this life through one pair of lenses? How can you be so blind? Inconsiderate? Unaware? Numb to the privilege, power, and OXYMORON of what this country has become?

As I read the order, I was slapped with the one-sided rhetoric of the common 1%, white picket fence, middle class gab of “merit”, “scholarship”, and “patriotism”. The further I got in the reading the less familiar it became….I was confused and frustrated trying to position myself in a place where I could imagine consistently “belonging” or feeling safe with these edicts. I reflected on my family, friends, patients, students, and like-minded people who may not be as fortunate to have access and awareness to achieve stability, education, therapy, assistance, acceptance, vital sustenance, or optimal health and wellness due to the disparities, injustices, and bias that is upheld and flaunted within the system that was made for only a designated class of individuals. The gag is: WE ARE NOT THE SAME! WE DO NOT WALK THE SAME WALK! TALK THE SAME TALK! SEE THE SAME THINGS! FEEL THE SAME FEELINGS! THERE IS A DIFFERENCE, DIVIDE, AND DYSFUNCTION THAT THOSE IN THE “DOMINANT” SECTOR CAN AND MAY NEVER BE ABLE TO COMPREHEND! We are not asking for standards that will further seclude, diminish, or misunderstand us. ALL WE NEED IS THE HUMILITY AND SELF AWARENESS TO BRING A CHANGE THAT WILL CAUSE US ALL TO RISE IN THE CAPACITY WE WERE CREATED TO!

 “While the number of Black people with college degrees has increased over the last two decades, Black people remain relegated to lower wage jobs and less lucrative industries compared to white people with similar levels of education, and Black women experience some of the largest pay gaps. Black people and other people of color in the United States suffer disproportionately from preventable disease and premature deaths, including high rates of maternal mortality, despite living in a country with one of the most advanced medical systems in the world–racial disparities that persist even when accounting for socioeconomic status, lifestyle, insurance coverage, and other risk factors. These racial inequities hurt the American economy as a whole”.

How can one question why Blacks may have a higher rate of mortality that is related to poor health care, nutrition, exercise, and stress management? Well…when there are massive wage gaps between racial/gender groups, communities that lack markets that sell AFFORDABLE fresh and organic produce, meats, and snacks, an absence of comprehensive, patient-centered medical facilities that offer functional and WHOLElistic care to all people, races, genders, and beliefs, or educational institutions that are not equipped to meet the needs and realities of all students that yearn for more in life, even with all the hardwork, dedication, and drive that one may have, how can you expect us not to succumb to woes and turmoil of an untimely death or perpetuating mental captivity?

 “Diversity, equity, and inclusion policies and programs help organizations comply with civil rights laws by ensuring that all people are on an equal footing in the workplace and in educational and medical settings… They are strategies to equalize opportunities for groups of people who are unfairly disadvantaged, such as: engaging in broader outreach and recruitment measures to expand a college applicant pool; adopting a policy to focus on necessary skills and qualifications in hiring; providing training to ensure that healthcare providers can effectively treat patients of all backgrounds; among others. At the end of the day, a successful diversity, equity, and inclusion program strives to ensure that no one feels excluded or treated unfairly. The federal government should encourage these programs, not limit them” 

My mind flashed to the many situations where my family and I were able to survive and meet our very basic needs as we navigated through the hussle and bussle of hardwork, diligence, and resilience, trying to make a name and  future for us to thrive and excel in America . Provisions within DEI and DEIA, such as WIC, food stamps and pantries, public inclusive workforce programs, behavioral modifications/special needs accommodations, trauma-informed interactions, gender-affirming outlets, cultural inclusion, educational grants and financial assistance, and so much more, granted us the time and space to focus and prepare for a greater significance to our existence. We overcame obstacles and standards of statistics that were created to subdue and oppress us, now be able to stand in rooms, credentialed, learned, and fruitful, alongside those who may have doubted that we would ever get there. These programs and aids helped guide us along a path that would allow us to stand tall with our heads high, unashamed of where we came from to serve as a blessing and testimony to those around us, helping them as they make it along their own path of victory. Within our school systems I have seen programs put in place that offer students with free meals, some of which are not able to get at home, vouchers for clothing and other essentials, and extra assistance and aid for those of other cultures, languages, backgrounds, and mental/developmental capacities that have truly made such a difference in their progression and success. There is so much more than learning how to read and write. Students need comfort, nourishment, peace at home, clean clothing, accommodations, and so many other aspects outside of the classroom that will ultimately reflect in their academics. Many children have all the intellect and capability in this world to be trailblazers and world changers, but lack the resources and chance to be able to propel in their aspirations and potential due to the barriers and boundaries of an unfair and faulted system. To eradicate the systems that have been put in place to allow us to feel seen, heard, included, and considered, completely eliminates an entire culture of multiple people who desperately deserve the blessing and privilege to reach for the stars in the ways that fit them best. 

Many who may not relate or understand these truths can mistake these types of aids as a “free pass” or “crutch”. And don’t get me wrong, there are some that may take advantage of the benefits that come with the assistance.  However,  we cannot ignore the bigger picture…the massive polka dot elephant that is standing in the middle of the White House. We need to grasp the truth and fact that not all people have the same experiences and truth. We all have different triumphs and failures, strengths and weaknesses, needs and comforts that all make us the complex and precious human beings we all are. To stand and judge my fellow brother or sister because they may not be able to cash flow their children through college, afford to feed their family on their weekly check while trying to satisfy other bills, or find a substantial  job without a push or network that can illuminate their potential, completely diminishes their humanity and wholeness. Our struggles, insecurities, traumas, differences, and failures are some of the elements that create the most influential, successful, capable, and beautiful human beings we are blessed to experience. No one person is  exempt from facing hardship, injustice, pain, or trial in some way, shape, or form in this life. To grow in abundance, unity, freedom, and holism is to stand hand in hand, uplifting one another if we fall, outstretching a hand to someone in need, raising awareness and creating access to opportunities for those who may never have the chance to experience them, and having empathy and compassion for those around us, knowing that the only thing that is guaranteed to ALL people in this life is death. We owe this to ourselves, families, peers, colleagues, patients, students, and all those we encounter.  Let’s make the best of this wonderful life we have been given…TOGETHER AS ONE…

Please enjoy this TED Talk with Nathaniel Rouse, Director of Equity, Race, & Cultural Diversity, explaining the positive impact of DEI and DEIA programs in schools: https://youtu.be/QuU4sm59rGw?feature=shared

Additionally take a look at this reel that I found on Instagram that highlights the disparities and truths that hide amongst the crevices of privilege, power, and difference: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKQkLCYgx1h/?igsh=MTFuMDI5ZWNsaWF2