5 Things / Good Vibes?
I’m excited to share that 5 Things is going a little deeper this year with some small but mighty changes: 1) I’ll begin to provide a bit more context of the problem/oppression behind the positive story; and I’ll include a weekly call to action in the Call to Action & Updates section below. This may be an article to read, a video to watch, a business to support, or something else entirely.
I’m doing this because I learned a lot from my short-lived TikTok experiment. In my nearly 20 years of inclusion work, I realize that we’re all still learning, and there are infinite ways to be inclusive. I heard from a diverse group of people on TikTok that my approach didn't resonate with them – and some felt harmed by “good vibes in DEI.” I realize that DEI exists because of systemic oppression, trauma, and pain, and the comments caused me to listen and reflect on my approach and whether there really is room for “good vibes” in this work.
What I know is that those comments come from places of deep hurt and pain that I’ll never experience or fully understand. That’s my privilege. But what I can do is adjust how I share my message by telling more of the backstory, and by giving you a clear action to remind you that there’s still a lot of work to be done. Just because there’s cause for hope doesn’t mean we should slow down. In fact, we should do more to keep up the momentum.
I realize my “good vibes” approach isn’t for everyone. Still, I’m going to keep sharing these stories, creating opportunities for and investing in BIPOC and other traditionally marginalized folks, and use my power and privilege to help fix the systems that create the pain experienced by my commenters. Thank you for being on this learning journey with me. Let’s do this.
Here are the good vibes I found this week:
Airbnb Announces Ban on Renting Out Houses Where Enslaved People Lived
Airbnb will no longer rent properties formerly occupied by enslaved people. Yes, this is really a thing – an “1830s slave cabin” was listed for rent last summer. The new policy prohibits the “Glorification and Marketing of Slavery” and, as a result, 30+ listings have been removed from the site. This matters because listings like that re-traumatize folks.
England and Wales Census Counts Trans and Non-binary People for First Time
England and Wales are counting transgender and non-binary people in their Census for the first time. Canada was the first country to do this in 2021. This is important because this kind of demographic data brings visibility, which can then bring resources and investment in better serving these traditionally under-resourced communities. The UK is a difficult place to be transgender, especially with beloved figures such as J.K. Rowling opposing transgender inclusion.
This Sikh Mom Couldn’t Find a Proper Helmet for Her Boys. Now, She’s Designed Her Own
A Sikh mom designed bike helmets to accommodate her sons’ turbans. Prior to her own creation, she tried everything from buying larger helmets to removing protective padding from the inside, to letting her kids ride without helmets. None of those solutions were safe, so she designed a helmet (now certified for use) with a domed top to accommodate a child's turban. This matters because children often opt out of participating in sports and other activities that aren’t inclusive of their diversity – and this product can allow these kids to feel a greater sense of belonging.
The TSA Is Rolling Out Gender-Neutral Airport Screenings
The Transportation Security Administration is rolling out their new, more transgender-friendly scanner system this month. Previously, the TSA agent had to guess someone’s gender as they went through the scanner, which often led to disclosing one’s trans status, misgendering, and in some cases, harassment. The new technology removes the gender-based system of scanning. This matters greatly to trans people who report invasive pat-downs at TSA, including the 5% of Gen Z who identify as transgender or non-binary (Pew Research).
City National Bank to Pay $31M for Lending Discrimination in Doj’s Largest-Ever Redlining Settlement
City National Bank, based in Los Angeles, agreed to pay $31 million in fines for the practice of redlining. Redlining literally refers to drawing red lines around neighborhoods on a map and is how lenders excluded primarily Black people from access to mortgages, based on the lie that those neighborhoods are not creditworthy. This practice goes back to the 1930s and meant that many Black folks weren’t able to accumulate the generational wealth that comes with home ownership. This bank is being fined for redlining Black and Latino neighborhoods in 2017-2020, so unfortunately the practice is alive and well….but the good news is that now there’s more accountability. In addition to the fine, the bank is also providing loan subsidies and otherwise resourcing those neighborhoods.
Call to Action:
We would love for you to read this story in Teen Vogue about New Year’s Eve and its complicated history for Black people. After you read the story, send me an email and let's chat about it!