Letter to the Editor: It’s Me: A Case For DEI – San Diego Voice and Viewpoint

As a Black American man, I have lost out to many of my white counterparts on careers that would have been a better fit for myself.
Many people tend to believe that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are just government affirmative action laws that are set aside only for Black Americans. They tend to focus on the belief that affirmative action is inherently racist. This is not the case.
As a Black American man, I have lost out to many of my white counterparts on careers that would have been a better fit for myself. I served in the military for 22 years and retired as a chief petty officer. After my time, I began working in the ship industry where I worked as a program manager for the last 16 years.
During my time working in the ship industry as a program manager, I had achieved many great achievements, not only completing my assignments before the requested times and on schedule, but also achieved my master’s in business and my doctorate degree in finance. As a Black man, I have made many achievements while my white counterparts have not sought out any form of education outside of the ship industry. Some may have certifications, but most don’t have degrees. Even with all of my achievements, even when there was DEI, I was still looked past, losing out to a government job to another one of my white counterparts who only has about two years at this current position.
The case for DEI is that though there was DEI to help soften the blow for many Black, Latin, Asian, people with disabilities, women, and other religions, many of these people will be overlooked more often. As humans, we have a bias and belief that people who don’t look like us are smarter, and DEI allows us to realize and see that there might be people more intelligent who don’t only look like you or me.
Markeith
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