My Story

Personal Journey

My great grandparents came to the U.S. from England and Scotland but I grew up in a predominantly poor, Black community in southeastern Virginia. Whiteness was not the center of the universe. What we all had in common was that we went to the same middle and high school, lived in the same government housing, and shared a similar culture. Race in the south is a difficult and complex topic that is expressed in both non-constructive and constructive ways. The sharing of Black, southern culture was our common ground at school. It was cultural exchange, not cultural appropriation. I grew up watching Black TV, Black film, eating catfish, fried chicken, and collard greens. One of my fondest memories was at a school dance. Mind you, we’re talking about music from Kool Moe D, Kid ‘n Play, Salt-n-Pepa...and I show up doing the twist! A Black girl named Lisa took me under her wing and taught me how to dance. So while some kids were learning to square dance, I was learning the cabbage patch and the wop! At the age of 12, I got to experience what it was like to be included, and not excluded based on the color of my skin.

There’s More to the Story

I thought I understood the realities of people of color. But here is what I now realize that I didn’t have to worry about because I was still white, young, able bodied, educated, straight, and Christian. 

I didn’t have to worry about straightening my hair vs wearing it natural. I didn’t have to worry about getting “too dark” from a tan. Or repeatedly being stopped by cops because I was walking or driving in a white neighborhood. Or being followed around a store then asked to leave if I wasn’t buying. I didn’t have to worry about someone clutching their purse as I walked by. I didn’t have to worry that my stance was threatening in public transport. I didn’t have my resume passed over because my name was LaKeesha. Or not getting hired after a great interview because I wore ethnic headdress or was in a wheelchair. Or worrying if any coworkers would look like me or would be uncomfortable around me. Or being asked if I was the ‘token hire’ or to ‘say something in my native language’. Or if I could afford college and how I got there. And I wasn’t kept out of the top 3 levels of an organization because of my skin color.

Find your story

The start of a personal DEI journey includes reflecting on your own experiences to shape your advocacy and articulate a personal connection to why you are passionate about this work. We’ve all had moments where we’ve felt excluded or “less than”. Most of us have also experienced the joy and excitement of learning about and celebrating the rich history and beauty of other cultures. And some of us have been surprised and relieved to find common ground and similarities with those who appear very different from us. These are the threads that are woven together to share your authentic story of diversity, equity, and inclusion. If you need a little help articulating your story and why this work is so important, please reach out!