A Message from Dennis Kennedy, the Founder and Board Chairman of the National Diversity Council:
“This moment of trial and pain for my community and our nation calls for unity, for decisive action and for empathy. As the founder and chairman of the National Diversity Council, as a black son, and as a man of faith, I call on all our leaders and communities to stand together against injustice and for the value of human life. This is the time for us to rise and lead from a place of humanity, to tackle the complex issues and uncertainty our nation faces. Since the inceptionof the NDC, I have dedicated my life’s work to promote respect, understanding and inclusion of all people. I share in the grief and anger many of us are feeling today. I, along with our NDC family, grieve for the senseless death of George Floyd. We add our voice to the clamor for accountability and justice. The National Diversity Council, as a nonpartisan organization, will continue its purpose and commitment to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in our workplaces and community.”
The National Diversity Council announced the inaugural launch of the National Coalition for Racial Justice and Equity which aims to advance racial equity for all to transform the nation and achieve social justice through programs focused on economic development, education, immigration, housing, the justice system and underserved youth.
The National Diversity Council stands in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight for diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage you, your friends, colleagues, family and leaders of your organization to sign our pledge to support the Black community. By signing the pledge, you recognize it’s not enough to “not be racist”, but being actively anti-racist and against racial injustice. Sign the Allyship Pledge and access our ally resource guide.
VOICES FROM OUR COMMUNITY:
Lin Tien, New York
“I am a Chinese American. Chinese Americans have encountered racism in America, but this piece is not about the discrimination we have endured. Our plight compared to that is systemically brought upon the Black community, especially upon the Black men in this country, is day and night.
The conventional conception about Chinese American baby boomers and their children is that we are hard working, Ivy-League educated geeks, upwardly mobile and successful. We are rule followers and like our parents, we are disciplined parents, we are usually mum about taking a stand on political and social issues because our priority is career, family and personal achievement.
As a Chinese American who has enjoyed many opportunities this country has to offer, I feel compelled to engage my group to speak up against racism in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd. It’s imperative that we make a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion at schools and work places, especially with regard to the Black community. Desmond Tutu said: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor”. It’s more pressing than ever to break our silence to show the country that we care. We honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal, regardless of color or identity.
Most importantly, I am making a plea to Chinese American leaders in this country: to all the corporate CEOs, politicians, ambassadors, writers, scholars, educators, scientists, artists, presidential candidates…make a statement condemning racism and to pledge to fight racial injustice. United we stand, we minorities must band together to bring reform, real change and healing.”
If you would like to submit a statement and add your voice to the call for racial justice and equity, please submit your statement to [email protected].
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