From Segregation to Integration

When you are the victim of segregation, the difference between De Facto and De Jure Segregation is your least concern.

De Facto Segregation occurs through voluntary associations and neighborhoods, and De Jure Segregation is supported by law. America has had its share with both, but De Jure Segregation suffered major blows with the passing of the 1964 Civil Rights Acts, Voting Rights Acts of 1965, and the Fair Housing Act of 1968.

These historic laws were an attempt to end segregation with the hopes of creating a culture with more fair and equitable practices for all races. Unfortunately, segregation mutated like a virus and became systemic racism with invisible walls that made it difficult to integrate stories about race into one narrative.

Birth of Diversity Education

From the 60's emerged different stories that made togetherness a tall order due to a culture that became prone to discriminatory practices against minority groups. To combat these unfair practices in the workplace, diversity education became the norm for creating cultures for diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Fast forward to today and organizations are still trying to figure out how to create cultures where employees can integrate their stories into one narrative to overcome biases.

The mission for changing the narrative for race shifted after the death of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020, which sparked an uptick in diversity education.

The Civil Rights Movement moved legislature. However, George Floyd’s death moved people from all races to open the door of their heart to integrate the plight of blacks into their story. Anti-racist books went from obscurity to best-sellers almost overnight as people from all races sought to understand how to integrate stories to end social injustices.

From churches, communities, and organizations, people sought to communicate differences between races to establish intercultural competence. Discussions about flaws in our culture like police brutality, unfair justice for people of color, disparities in healthcare, hiring, etc., became the focus of town hall meetings. They all have the appearance of integrating stories into one, but never address the disease that continues to undermine bringing races together.

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The Intersection

A major factor to consider is that regardless the skin color, every person has a soul in which the culture leaves indelible marks on the character. If someone is exposed to a racist culture, the chances for racist attitudes and behaviors will be high. Implicit bias trainings are great for creating awareness for the symptoms of racism and other biases that divide but comes short in treating the disease that infects the soul. (See diagram below)

The intersection where the soul meets the culture is where biases are formed, and it is where the vulnerability in race relations is exploited. When the soul is not highly developed in purpose, Purpose Deficit Disorders™ (PDD) increases the risk for the character to become a product of the culture.

Biases from our culture create narratives where differences undermine the ability to build togetherness. Instead of integrating stories into one narrative, the risk remains high for propagating liabilities that promote dysfunctions which ultimately leads to division.

Treating the Disease

At some point, we must stop treating the symptoms of racism and start treating the disease. From the 60's until now, we know that if we fail to treat the disease behind racism, division and hatred will be an ongoing narrative for years to come.

We must embrace the reality of a culture where togetherness is a novel idea, but practicing togetherness is an elusive idea because of PDD.

The 60's brought an end to De Jure Segregation. However, the race narrative in America continues to showcase the struggle from segregation to integration. Many people are afraid of the browning of America because of the disease that continues to make them a product of their environment.

COVID-19 changed the narrative of the world in 2020. We went from living in cultures where coming together was the norm to physical separation to prevent the spread of the disease. Overnight, herd immunity became a conversation as the world moved with warp speed to find vaccines to build immunity against this deadly disease.

Treating the disease behind racism and all biases from our culture is no different than treating COVID-19. Instead of injecting the body with vaccine to build immunity, the soul must be injected with Purpose Development™ to build immunity against cultures that prevent us from creating narratives that bring races together. (See diagram below)

Purpose Development™ is the vaccine that protects the soul from PDD. Unlike traditional implicit bias training that creates awareness for symptoms, Purpose Development™ treats the disease that prevents people of all races from integrating their stories into a narrative for valuing everyone.

Moving legislature and corporate policies are necessary, but moving the heart to treat the disease and build togetherness are critical for the future of our country.

As we contemplate the reality of coming together post COVID-19, we must remember that it was a necessary segregation, but it is also a reminder of how much we need each other.

Now we must move from segregation to integration by not allowing differences to be the controlling narrative of our story. Instead of insane practices that lead to the same results, we must master new skills to raise our Purpose IQ™ so we can practice what we have in common to create a narrative that delivers more value to the world.

Click Here to schedule a Discovery Call on how your organization can start treating the disease that undermines togetherness.