If a car’s steering wheel is biased to the right, the car will continue to drift to the right if we keep the steering wheel neutral. We have to turn the steering wheel to the left, equal and opposite to the bias, to be able for the car to stay in our lane.
This is the same with subtle discrimination that accumulates over time, you need to provide opportunities to make up for the accumulated discrimination and avoid being neutral.
“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.” – Desmond Tutu
This means that by being neutral, you are keeping the status quo and helping the oppressor, not the victim. This is why many organisations who are at level 2 of the Capability Maturity Model for Diversity in Organisations don’t make any headway in their DEI targets.
