Op-ed: Companies must go beyond hollow promises to instigate real equity

Tiara Hughes, center, instructs students Jocelyn Wong, left, and Jane Katwai in a graduate-level design studio at the Illinois Institute of Technology. Hughes is an architect at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, a teacher at IIT and a landmark commissioner who also founded and leads FIRST 500, a global platform to address the industry-wide equity gap in the architecture field.

They strive to appear as champions of diversity, equity and inclusivity both internally and externally. However, beneath the surface of these well-crafted narratives lies a murky reality: companies engage in performative practices, appearing committed to equitable workplaces and community welfare while doing the bare minimum to effect real change. This “fog of artificial impact” is a smoke screen that obscures the true intentions and actions of these corporate and nonprofit entities.

However, this representation often lacks substance, as the token minority’s role is frequently limited to symbolism and does not translate into tangible influence or meaningful contributions. These individuals may be silenced when it comes to decisions that truly impact DEI within the organization, effectively rendering them powerless despite their apparent prominence.

Behind the facade of altruism, some companies prioritize profit and reputation over authentic empathy. They may exploit communities for their resources while failing to make genuine efforts to understand and address their needs. In some cases, companies may use their philanthropy as a marketing tool to attract customers, rather than investing in meaningful, sustainable community development.

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