Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts often fall short when they confine themselves solely to Black and White dynamics. Merely incorporating Black literature, history, and culture into educational settings doesn’t dismantle racism or eradicate White supremacy. This truth hit home for me when a Latino student transferred to my school from a predominantly Black public school. Despite being of Latino descent, he knew little about his own heritage and its ties to American history. Worse still, he faced ridicule for his accent and encountered a lack of effort from both students and teachers to engage with his non-English-speaking parents. His family said they had never been to a school where their son learned about his history and felt celebrated.
The flaw in our approach to DEI becomes evident when we center on any one ethnicity. Even if we swap out Eurocentric content for Afrocentric material, we still overlook the diverse backgrounds of many students. Jewish and Middle Eastern students can feel marginalized on college campuses, while Native American history remains absent from K-12 curricula. The oversight extends to significant historical events like the Japanese Internment.
Previously, I, like many, believed it was acceptable to prioritize the Black narrative. My own encounters with racism, along with those of my family and friends, fueled this perspective. However, as I immersed myself in education and engaged with students from various backgrounds, I realized that this approach failed to serve all children. Regardless of ethnicity or background, every child desires love, affirmation, and recognition. Centering humanity emerged as the most inclusive and productive approach.
Some argue that there isn’t enough time to incorporate every narrative, but America’s story encompasses everyone. It’s a nation where no one truly originates, yet it embraces everyone as home. Omitting certain narratives from education creates gaps and denies children a comprehensive understanding of their place in the world. True equity means ensuring that every child sees themselves reflected in the story of their country and the world.
To achieve genuine DEI, we must adopt a humancentric approach that acknowledges our shared belonging to the human family. As Maya Angelou’s poem beautifully articulates, our interconnectedness transcends ethnicity, religion, or background. Let us strive to create educational environments where all children are not only seen but also valued as equal participants in shaping our collective story.
Dr. Anika T. Prather 