Dear readers,

February is Black History Month. It is a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of Black individuals in North America and around the world, both throughout history and today.

This issue of Interrobang touches on many of these important stories, while also celebrating diversity in all its forms. At a time when the importance of diversity is being called into question, and marginalized groups everywhere are facing new levels of hatred and discrimination, I am thrilled to share with you a paper which I believe helps to shine a light on how our differences make us stronger.

I have noticed a new narrative that has sprung up recently, one which tries to argue that diversity efforts exist to divide us rather than bring us together, that separating people into “groups” only further encourages discrimination. But acknowledging that people have different lived experiences doesn’t mean we are separating ourselves from one another—quite the opposite. Efforts to diversify and equalize our society come from the undisputed truth that historically, our culture has been divided based on identity. Social hierarchies have kept certain groups under foot while other groups have been able to thrive. Modern-day diversity efforts are rooted in the idea that generations of oppression have lingering effects today, and without the continued effort to level the playing field, that same oppression will rear its head once more. In many cases, the fight for equality has never stopped.

So now is not the time to roll back our diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Now is not the time to pretend we are all afforded the same opportunities or that we exist in a true meritocracy. Now is the time to listen to marginalized communities, and to stand with them as those in power seek to systematically decimate their rights by removing the safeguards that were originally put in place to protect them.

Barriers remain, and it is up to us to keep breaking them down.

Sincerely,

Hannah Theodore