It’s kind of bizarre that DEI is often presented as a controversial idea these days, with some on the Right speaking of DEI with such disdain that it takes on the tone of a racial slur.
The threat that those opposed to DEI programs seem to feel is that giving greater attention and increased opportunities to historically underrepresented communities necessitate taking something away from the historically advantaged. But is this really the case? It’s a matter of perspective.
In the past five years or so, we have seen some genuine DEI intentions put into practice in the film industry. I’m certain that opinions are mixed on the immediate outcomes, but anecdotally, I can say that it’s been encouraging to see more people of colour on sets, more women behind cameras, and a broader range of stories being told.
The cynical observer will say something like, “Ugh… it’s just corporations playing at being woke to monetize the optics.” But as someone who grew up seeing almost no one who looked like me in the industry, I’m struck by how things feel differently on a more inclusive set.
Viewing DEI initiatives solely as hiring quotas misses the huge upside that diversity offers everyone – a broader set of experiences to draw from and perspectives to inform your decisions. And yes, when we’re talking about commercial work, a larger pool of consumers to sell to.
I can understand why people don’t trust the idea of quotas driving hiring practices, but if there is no mechanism for assessment, people will tend to take the path of least resistance and just do what they’ve always done. I can also understand how difference can be scary to the uninitiated, but it stays scary if you wall yourself off from it.
The anti-DEI crowd’s arguments remind me of people who travel to a foreign country with a couple of boxes of power bars in their suitcases because they are afraid to eat the local cuisine. They make it through their trip, eating most of their meals at McDonald's or the hotel. Nothing bad happens to them, but nothing sublime either. They return home with fewer stories and less personal growth.
We tend to resist change for fear of being made uncomfortable, but true strength and growth come from working through discomfort.
By Amani King, Executive Creative Director at Avocados and Coconuts