Broken DEI promises, diverse LA fire communities abandoned and more stories from Black, Asian and Arab communities you shouldn't have missed this week - curated by Melissa Sigodo
Opinion - "We often underestimate the role diversity schemes play in giving hope to those who’ve been rejected for having an ethnic name or looking different", writes Serena Richards.
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The last couple of weeks have been a constant reminder of how our world is shaped by far-right politicians and billionaire tech giants.
The media agenda has been set by Elon Musk and it doesn’t feel like it will end anytime soon. To add to the chaos, Trumps presidency is around the corner and this week, we saw Mark Zuckerberg announce that he would no longer provide fact-checking on his platforms and that furthermore, he would be cutting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives which were prompted by the murder of George Floyd. Without facts and diversity, disinformation and racism will surely thrive.
But, we move.
This week, The Read is back with the first opinion piece of the year. I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to create opportunity through your help which is more important than it has ever been. I appreciate you for subscribing but do consider a paid subscription. You can also support The Source by sharing the publication with others in your circle and tagging me on social media.
But without further ado, here’s the first opinion piece of the year.
The Read - Serena Richards
Serena Richards is a journalist at the Mirror covering social issues and politics. She has written for The Metro, Galdem Magazine and Black Ballad. You can also watch her on YouTube - Serenathejournalist, on Substack @Serena the Jounalist and on Twitter
“The community effort to support one another is now more important than ever as Trump takes office. The reality is that if we don’t do it for ourselves now, who really will?”, writes Serena Richards.
Serena Richards - Sunday January 12, 2024 - The Source
We often underestimate the role diversity schemes play in giving hope. Hope to those who’ve been rejected for looking or sounding different, having an ethnic name and generally not fitting into the box created for white people.
For decades, systems have been in place where employers only hire people who look like them and now, groups that already face discrimination in the workforce will have significantly less of a chance of joining some of the biggest companies.
Social media giant Meta along with tech company Amazon have announced they will be cutting their diversity and inclusion efforts. Other companies such as McDonalds have made similar decisions to pull back on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) after Donald Trump won the election. But now, as the Trump Train pushes ahead, it will further instil fear into those who genuinely try to stand up for those less regarded. As for those less genuine in their efforts, the decision to axe diversity in order to get into Trump’s good books only proves it was merely only ever a tick-box exercise.
“As companies decide they no longer want to take part, it also sends a bigger message that they never genuinely cared about diversity in the first place.”
A good chunk of equality programmes that were made as a pledge for change following the murder George Floyd back in 2020, have now been unmasked as a performative ploy. Diversity schemes that supposedly aimed to hold workplaces accountable, urging them to no longer reject expanding the bubble of the working world, will be no more. As companies decide they won’t take part in building a fairer society, it also sends a bigger message that they never genuinely cared about diversity in the first place.
Now, as the Trump train chugs on, many can no longer hope that companies will look their way or that bosses to whole-heartedly care for their wellbeing.
But with that being said, the community effort to support one another is now more important than ever as Trump takes office. To send that person a job hire link, recommend someone to your boss and to network even more, is on us. The reality is that if we don’t do it for ourselves now, who really will?
News
Meta and Amazon are now axing their diversity programmes citing a ‘changing landscape.’ Many of the initiatives which will now end were put in place in following promises for change after the murder of George Floyd by a white policeman. Full story.
The lawyer for Marcus Fakana who has been jailed in Dubai for sex with a British girl says ‘they were in the same school year and Marcus didn’t know she was 17.’ The girl would have likely also been charged as well had the mum reported it in Dubai, she added. Full story.
A petition to have Marcus released has now reached over 50,000 signatures. Full story.
The sister of a man who went missing has made a heartbreaking plea to find him. Michael Nsonwu, 20, from Southgate, London, who has ‘never gone missing before’ was last seen on CCTV entering the North Circular (A406). Full story.
Black staff members at Harrods department store say they would leave the shop floor before Mohamed Al Fayed visited while another former worker says she was told not to hire anyone Black, because "the customers wouldn't like it." Full story.
Policing
Two Metropolitan Police officers are accused of lying to the inquest of a Black man Kevin Clarke who said “I can’t breathe” and “I’m going to die” as he was placed in handcuffs and then lost consciousness. Kevin later died at Lewisham hospital. Full story.
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