#LatinaEqualPayDay and “woke washing”

The wage and wealth gaps are huge and need to be considered by our lawmakers. When it’s time for you to vote, please take a look at the economic agenda of the candidates and check if they have any concrete plans focused on closing the wage and wealth gaps.

If you think you are doing your part to close the gap because your company has a DEI program, so “of course you are helping”, I have news for you: YOU ARE WRONG. DEI program doesn’t mean the organization truly cares or does real impactful and long-lasting work towards Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion… but it means the corporation wants to look progressive and “woke”. All that glitters is not gold! But it can be transformed if you, as a worker or executive, push for change.

DEI corporate programs are essential so ALL PEOPLE have access to opportunities, dignity, and human rights. But, if your corporation is doing DEI programs but also enabling policies and practices that propagate systems of oppression (like the defunding or ban of abortion, defund of affordable housing initiatives, and the mass incarceration of POC and immigrants), you are not doing diversity, inclusion, and equity, you are using DEI to “woke wash” your brand.

Some signs of “woke washing” when it comes to Latinx populations:
- You say your company cares about immigrants but don’t train your hiring managers on…