Build It and They Will Come? Exploring the Importance of Equity over Equality for Black Employees

by Simone Donaldson | November 15, 2023 10:00 AM

Equality, Equity, Reality, Liberation image by Artist Angus Maguire depicts four (4) images of three (3) people of varying heights attempting to watch a baseball game over a fence. The first one “Equality” shows each person standing on boxes of equal size, where the taller person is well able to see the game, the middle shorter person is barely able to see over the fence to see the game, and the third and shortest person is unable to see past the fence. In the second image, “Equity” the tallest person has no box to stand over and can see the game without obstruction, the second person has a box and is able to see over the fence, and the third person has two boxes, and can now view the game. In the third image, “Reality”, the tallest person has a stack of multiple boxes, so much so that they can’t be seen in the picture frame. The second person has one box and can see the game, and the third, shortest person, is in a whole dug into the ground unable to see the game and is at the bottom of the fence. In the fourth and final image, all three people are able to see the game because the fence is removed.The popular saying: “If you build it, they will come” was first introduced in the 1989 baseball movie Field of Dreams.  In searching the origin of this quote, all while thinking about equity work; it was a brilliant accident that I was also drawn to the baseball picture shown here (adapted from The Interaction Institute for Social Change by artist Angus Maguire).  I have observed that many leaders and organizations mistakenly use an equality lens to create or “build” unique services and resources for their Black employees in an attempt to address anti-Black racism.

Have you ever wondered why Black employees don’t access the resources provided to address their experiences with anti-Black racism?  As illustrated in the picture, it is not enough to invite someone to a baseball game where there may be barriers to fully access the game. Similarly, if we are attempting to meet the needs of our Black employees, it’s not enough to create services without considering the barriers that may grant full access or access at all.  Leaders have to consider the distinct needs and therefore unique processes and interventions required to ensure services will in fact be accessible and meet their employees’ needs.  If leaders fail to do so, then they risk wasting time, money, and creating more distrust.  Inevitably, organizations will only be “building” missed opportunities for racialized employees to access the resources needed to support their overall wellness.

Equality = Same Treatment

Equality is about people being treated exactly the same, without any focus on possible past and/or present challenges and barriers.  Unfortunately, equality ignores the harsh reality of systemic racism in the daily lives of Black employees.  In turn, this approach not only ignores and invalidates the experiences of Black employees, but it also creates barriers by perpetuating racism through silencing these experiences. Our history has left a legacy that ensures systemically, we all are not treated equally in the present, and so our approach to addressing racial oppression won’t work through an equality lens either.

Equity = Fair Treatment

Equity, on the other hand, seeks to eliminate barriers to historically underserved and marginalized groups, to ensure they and all groups can gain fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement. In approaching the creation of services and resources in the workplace through an equity lens, it sends a clear message to Black employees that they are seen, heard, and valued in the workplace.  Black employees will be more inclined to engage in services that they can trust will meet their needs.  If leaders and organizations are truly committed to their Black employee’s well-being, then they must commit to going above and beyond to reduce barriers, while truly understanding the needs of these employees.

I applaud the leaders and organizations who have understood the importance of creating spaces and services for Black employees to navigate anti-Black racism.  Now, when you notice your employees are not showing up or showing up in small numbers, it’s time to move forward in addressing these concerns through an equity lens.  As you do that, I want you to consider the 3 barriers of Racial Trauma (the daily experience of race-based traumatic stress that systemically occurs in blatant and subtle ways), Psychological Safety (when one believes they are working in an environment where they can take interpersonal risks), and Systemic Workplace Barriers.  I hope you’ll join me in future posts when I dive deeper into these 3 key barriers and what to consider when dismantling them.  In the meantime, I ask:

What are some other barriers you believe may be preventing Black employees from accessing programs or services created to help address the toll of anti-Black racism in their lives?

I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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