The conversation around diversity, equity, and inclusion is more than a debate about corporate strategy or public policy—it’s a meditation on the American promise, the moral weight of equality, and the messy, beautiful contradictions of human progress. For every step forward, there’s a sharp tug back.
DEI initiatives have built momentum, but for many, the doors to opportunity still feel bolted shut. And so, we must clarify: Equity is the destination, but equality is the road. To reach one, the other must first be cleared of its obstructions—disparities that persist like stubborn roots beneath the concrete.
Can we rethink equity based on equality? Can we get back on path?
This isn’t a new battle. In the 1970s and 1980s, multicultural advertising burst onto the scene, offering a mirror to the marginalized. For the first time, people of color, LGBTQ+ communities and other historically excluded groups saw themselves reflected in glossy magazines and 30-second TV spots. But that reflection came with an asterisk: It was separate, distinct, something “other” but reminiscent of the Jim Crow South—separate but equal.