The tenets of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are revolutionary tools for myself and as an educator for sustaining a holistically decolonized school structure.

Diversity has come to the forefront as a value that celebrates our country’s multicultural and multilingual communities. The term is associated with equality however both are limited and problematic in its reach for creating real change. With nearly one third of the US population now identifying as persons of color, diversity only functions as a theoretical construct that encourages people to view all individuals in the same light they would like to be treated and thus devoid of power dynamics of superiority.

Equity, nevertheless, is equality in practice; the transformation of good thoughts to meaningful action. Equity acknowledges the institutionally and historically deep roots - of the why and how - of racism that marginalizes black and brown communities. In the educational context, it means that all students must be given the real possibility of an equality of outcomes and thus a redistribution of resources (Affirming Diversity, 7). Ibram X Kendi succinctly defines inequity as, “When two or more racial groups are not standing on approximately equal footing...the defining question is whether discrimination is creating equity or inequity?”

Equality and equity are the stepping stones for inclusion; the self-determination and liberation of groups of people to autonomously decide in what ways and how they would like to redistribute resources in their respective communities. Unfortunately, there still exists overt and invisible barriers marginalized communities face in achieving this task. Inclusion symbolizes grassroots tangible change that values the active engagement of all individuals in creating equitable policies.