I’LL SAY IT AGAIN, “WE NEED LEVEL PLAYING FIELDS” (AND LEADERS WHO “GET IT”)
People looking to get paid for sins of past governments or institutions aren’t seeing the big picture. If we want change, we must focus on the future, the only place where change can occur.
Historically, oppressed people have advocated for financial amends from institutions and governments. I believe this approach sells people short. In 2021, unconscious and intentional governmental and institutional oppression continue to impact much of the world. With lackluster progress toward genuine fairness and equality, purely financial solutions are short sighted.
Alternatively, it is well established that when playing fields are leveled, leadership diversifies and people flourish. It’s true in government, business, academics, sports, medicine, the arts and the list continues.
Restitution payments tend to distract from today’s transgressions. In a model (our current model) where some segments of government or society are able to dictate terms, paying people off to buy their silence will always be easier than changing privileges to foster fair competition.
When payoffs become the norm, oppression evolves, takes on different forms, and targets different vulnerable populations. This practice of paying off disadvantaged people doesn’t level playing fields and at best, shifts directions fields are tilted and at worst, masks the fact that fields remain unlevel and unfair.
Unless real change occurs, in people’s hearts and minds, “restitution” will continue to be a means to “shut people up” one issue at a time.
People who believe payoffs do more long term damage than good, see through “hush money” and notice behaviors never change when the punishments are equivalent to paying a fine. The net outcome is privileged groups paying these fines effectively exert more power over people being receiving payments.
“Payoffs” as policies/norms are an enormous setback for equality.
So, what would more effectively address equality issues facing women, people of color, the LGBTQ community, mentally and physically “challenged” people and even “average white people” (whatever that means) who find themselves oppressed in different ways, by the same privilged groups setting limits for everyone?
“Non-privileged”, people account for the vast majority in a narrowing privileged society. We are diverse, yet not so different from one another.
Most of us are empathetic to one another and we share the belief that the world will be better when the “playing field” is level for ALL.
Competition is hard work! For groups already in a position of strength (acquired by leveraging unfair circumstances), it’s much easier to oppress and payoff would be competitors.
Rather than seeking narrow policy concessions or restitution, we must ask, “what will make life better for all people today and beyond?”
What if privilege didn’t dominate politics, housing, education, business, etc.?
Leveling playing fields would foster a better world for all humanity. Rather than seeking artificial victories via punitive payoffs, we must continue to work for systemic improvements that one day genuinely normalize integration and expectations of success for all people regardless of appearance, sexual orientation, gender, nationality or anything else.
We must work together to affect sustainable changes that not only permit, but encourage and reward inclusive, open minded leadership development across all sectors of society.
If 2020 taught us anything, leadership matters! Every voice matters. Actions and intentions matter. If we (the collective majority) want to live in more tolerant, fair societies, then we must develop young, open-minded and tolerant leaders in academics, governments, families, churches, nonprofits and corporations.
Our level of collective engagement within our families, communities, businesses and governments directly regulates our progress. Real changes, within the hearts of individuals and through transforming organizational leadership will far exceed policies, politics and fines.
2021 must be remembered as the year humanity pivoted away from privileged, entitled, oppressive culture. Our next chapter must be about developing leaders who embrace accountability and authenticity…on level playing fields.
