Diversity and inclusion
are two vastly different things
But diversity won’t reign supreme
so long as inclusion is but a dream
You see, diversity gets me in the door
but inclusion demands more
It demands that my voice be heard
so I can silence the absurd
Yet the absurd wants to silence me
Last I checked, I was free
Free to the tenth degree
You see, diversity without inclusion
is merely an illusion
Don’t ask for my input
only to put me out
Don’t invite me to your party
for a dance of doubt
Sure, you embrace diversity
but you also choke inclusion
This isn’t rocket science
we’re not studying nuclear fusion
Buzzwords keep us in a dream state
till we state what they mean
You see, diversity welcomes variety
and inclusion makes room for people like me
So let’s form a more perfect union
and not just during communion
My country, ’tis of thee
sweet land of liberty
to thee I write
We don’t need anymore disorder
but if you’d like to take my order
I’ll have a cup of equity and equality
with two scoops of justice, please
53 Responses to “Dear America”
Courtney
Standing ovation. The feels are real. Bravo.
Ricco Wright
Thank you, Courtney. That means a lot coming from you. Looking forward to working with you soon.
Marc Flemon
Nice one…
Ricco Wright
Thank you, King.
B. Sherrance Russell, Ph.D.
Diversity and inclusion is a must in these yet to be United States of America. Job well done Doc!
Ricco Wright
I concur, doc. Thanks for your commentary.
Jaybe Holiday
This poem leaves me in anticipation of the comments Meghan Merkle will say at the wedding reception. (#DrumRoll…)
Ricco Wright
Interestingly, I didn’t plan on publishing “Dear America” ahead of the royal wedding. I just happened to schedule it for yesterday. It couldn’t have been published at a better time though. America, and the world too, needs to have more discourse on the importance of diversity and inclusion with the view of equity and justice. It’s my hope that royal wedding helps in this regard.
Busayo o
Solid feels
Ricco Wright
Thanks, my dude.
Kim Smith, Jr.
“But diversity won’t reign supreme, so long as inclusion is but a Dream..” Very wise words from a beautiful mind.
Ricco Wright
Thank you, my brother. Glad you dig that quotation. I dig it, too.
Bjorg Johannsdottir
Beautiful!
Ricco Wright
Thank you, doc.
Glenn
Dope
Ricco Wright
Thanks, my guy.
Gabriel A. Hopkins
Excellent piece with an effective yet bone deep message!
Ricco Wright
Thank you, good brother. May we both continue writing and publishing.
Ato Awity
Smooth, my brother 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿
Ricco Wright
Thank you, my brother.
Cherla Lewis
This is speaking…America are you listening? I love it!!!
Ricco Wright
The hope is that America is listening. If not, I can always say it louder, especially for the people in the back 🙂 Thanks, fam.
Michala
Diversity without Inclusion is merely just a dream without action, well said
Ricco Wright
Thank you. I hope that it serves as inspiration for you as you matriculate to university.
Dani W
100% Truth! Powerful
Ricco Wright
Thank you!
Heather V Lewis
More than inspiring, a guiding light. A beacon for what we can become.
Ricco Wright
Thank you, Heather! We can become so much more than what we are. The ones who are willing to speak truth to power just need to continue confronting power. Eventually we’ll win. Truth can trump power. (Pun intended.) I strongly recommend that you read “You, Too” as well. I think you’d dig it too. Peace.
Hannah Baker
YES… this is a good one 👍🏼
Ricco Wright
Thank you, Hannah!
Chris Johnson
Thoughtful, accurate, and necessary in this world of ours. Diversity / Inclusion and Equity / Equality are 4 of my favorite words. Dope piece
Ricco Wright
Thanks, brother. What’s diversity without inclusion? And what’s inclusion without equity and/or equality? Above all, justice should be front and center in the discussion about either and all four.
David Sinclair
“You see, diversity gets me in the door
but inclusion demands more
It demands that my voice be heard
so I can silence the absurd” ~ Ricco Wright
This is the realest statement I have heard in a while …. this is my fight every day in the corporations of America who claim they’re about human services but really are “ inhuman Dis-Service “
True that, the correct term for these is buzzwords … if you got a swarm of bees buzzing, there’s no distinction in sound or action, it becomes just white noise (double entendre) and if you’re not careful, white noise will deafen your ears, disabling your ability to recognize the alert of danger, or preoccupy you with the fear of an ever present danger …
Ricco Wright
“Inhuman Dis-service” is a great term to describe the unfortunate circumstances we’re facing today. Also, your point about white noise is accurate. Things are by design more than meets the eye. Perhaps that’s the point you’re raising–to not be blinded, or blindsided even, by the senses. Rather, be more perceptive with our minds and in turn with our hearts. Maybe that’s the only way we can escape the danger of which you speak.
Kevin Jenkins
Great piece. Thanks for this brother.
Ricco Wright
Thank you, good brother.
Frank Cowie
This poem has captured some of my lived experiences. A great poem that will be recited by others long after we have left this world. Keep working at this craft. You will only get better.
Ricco Wright
Thank you, Frank, for your commentary. This poem has captured some of my lived experiences as well. The plan is to continue writing in attempts to shed light on more of my lived experiences.
Daisy Chan
Well written, well said.
Ricco Wright
Thank you, Daisy.
Tierra
This is by far my favorite piece from you, keep them coming
Ricco Wright
Wow. That’s wonderful to know. I’ll definitely keep ’em coming! Thank you so much.
Jordan Alexander
What you articulated was a great point. It lets us, the readers, chime in on what’s going on (possibly with you in particular as well). Maybe the fact that your highly educated makes the absurd feel not only uncomfortable, but inferior. Diversity in high places is like you’re here but that’s it. Diversity shut up and just ride along. It sheds light on the complexities of the issue in this country. And you got #BARZ!
Ricco Wright
Thanks, cuzzo. You’re absolutely–diversity is a mere welcoming party. One isn’t guaranteed anything more beyond that. I consider that inherently problematic. America has come a long way but certainly has far to go. Let’s keep creating art to shed light on the complexities as you stated. Peace.
Bjay Jones
That’s a good one King.
Now you need to do one on white silence as the follow up
Respect ✊🏾
Ricco Wright
Thank you, King. I appreciate the suggestion. I’ll add “white silence” to the list of topics to explore including “white noise,” “assimilation,” and “decolonization”. Peace.
Terry James
SCREAM RIGHT NOW!!!!! CROWD GOES WILD!!!
TAKE MY ORDER AMERIKKA? AMERICA?
MAN THIS IS A HOMERUN DR. RICCO!!!
SHARING SHARING SHARING
Terry James
SCREAMING AS THE CROWD GOES WILD!!
TAKE MY ORDER AMERIKKA? AMERICA? INCREDIBLE TIMES 6, DR. RICCO!
#”I TOO AM AMERICA!!”
Ricco Wright
Yes indeed. You, too, are America.
Ricco Wright
Haha. Thank you, my brother, for the commentary and for all your support. I enjoy writing performance poetry. More to come soon.
Metria Smith-Jackson
Wow! This poignant piece about diversity and inclusion is amazing! The way you arranged this spoken word is LOUD!!! I want to share it! I want people that I know to know the difference between the two words. It is true that you can’t truly have diversity without inclusion. Love it!
Esther Reiser
This poem elegantly sums up the difference between self-serving appeals to have minorities / marginalized people simply present and actually engaging and working with said people and communities.
I honestly don’t say this often, and I’m not saying this lightly, but I think this poem does such a good job at dissecting the difference between tokenism and actual inclusiveness that I’d love to see it as part of a school curriculum one day.
Kristal Stallworth-Little
Masterpiece. Truth chillingly defined! Brilliant and Necessary. #DearAmerica