By ADIA REYNOLDS
Tiger Media Network
Times Talk was founded on the principles of generating discussion around civic and political topics. This week’s discussion topic has been in headlines around the country for the past few months: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
FHSU Black Student Union Vice President Genisis Wilson spoke on Thursday about the topic in a presentation entitled “Why DEI?”
Times Talk is a regular event on the FHSU campus, where students and faculty provide short presentations related to civic or political engagement. Wilson spoke from her personal experiences as an African American woman regarding DEI’s historical and modern influences.
“Undoing policies established in the 1960s may erase decades of progress towards equality,” Wilson said.
The presentation was broken down into three bite-size sections: the history of DEI, the modern impacts of DEI, and the repercussions of its removal from professional policies. DEI has roots in the systemic oppression experienced by the African American community. Wilson’s presentation said that many underestimate the degree to which marginalized groups are still positioned at a disadvantage for aspects of themselves that they have no control over.
Wilson illustrates this through her background in the medical field, and by citing statistics surrounding African American healthcare.
“The statistics about infant mortality were the biggest takeaway,” said attendee Audrey Ball. “It was shocking to see, and something I’ll never forget.”
The DEI Times Talk generated significant discussion beyond the presentation. Members of other marginalized groups in attendance advocated for their unique views on DEI. Emphasis was placed on reminding non-marginalized individuals that DEI protected the working rights of a wide umbrella of people.
One attendee asked how we can recognize our fear and move beyond it, in times when DEI is such a topic of controversy.
Wilson’s stance is one of bravery that navigates around bigotry.
“We have to make sure those conversations are not because we want to suppress DEI, even if we live in a scary time,” she said. “I like to think about how scared our past African American advocates must have been, and I take comfort in that.”
Wilson said most people who are vocally anti-DEI aren’t looking to hold a nuanced conversation.
“If you ask questions to those who are anti-DEI to explain their stance and they can’t provide a factual basis then it’ll be swept away quickly,” she said.
Wilson also emphasized the importance of standing up for the marginalized through everyday actions.
“We always think that history is full of one person who stood up to oppression,” she said. “It’s built into our history books, but it erases nuances of these historical figures, and the movements of people who made it happen.”
In Wilson’s mind, it takes a village to protect the welfare of its community members, especially as forces move to backtrack the progress made toward diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Fort Hays State University keeps an archive of every Times Talk, which can be found here: https://scholars.fhsu.edu/times_talk_archive/. Additionally, Times Talks are uploaded to YouTube for those unable to attend in person.
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