Happy Wednesday,

Last week was about challenging biases.  This week is about the video game Spider-man: Miles Morales, representation, and inclusion.

Alice (8) was watching me play the game and there is a scene where Spider-man (Miles Morales) uses sign language to communicate with a character who is deaf.  Alice asked, “Why isn’t she talking?”  I explained that the character is deaf and often individuals who are deaf use sign language to communicate.  Alice then said, “Why would they do that in a video game?” 

It was an interesting question and a powerful moment, because I realized that Alice had never seen someone who offered this element of difference.  I told Alice, “She’s in the video game, because the people who created this video game understand that she has a story worth telling.  On top of that, the people who made the video game understand that she represents the people out in the world who are like her and also have stories worth telling.  It’s kind of the same way with Miles Morales.  How cool is it to have a Spider-man who is Black and Puerto Rican?  How cool is it to have a Spider-man who can tell different stories?  We all are unique, and we all have our own stories to tell.  I say the more different stories we can see the better.”  Alice paused for a moment and then said, “Yeah, that’s pretty cool!”

How does this connect with anything?  If you pause for a moment and think about the things you watch on TV and the people at your work, how many of them look like you and are like you?  The majority of the world looks like me.  This sends clear signals that I’m welcome and included in a variety of situations.  The same can’t be said for all people.  While it’s easy to look at the progress we’ve made with regards to diversity and inclusion, the fact is that non-majority group members are still vastly underrepresented at all levels in an organization.  A lack of representation, a lack of people who look and are like you, is often a signal that you aren’t necessarily welcome and included in an environment.  If we want to live in a world where all people are valued, then we need to work to ensure all people are represented and are included.

The challenge: How will you include a wider variety of people in your work and life?

Have a jolly good day,

Andrew Embry