5 Things / The Irish
Listen to the full episode here:
My parents were Irish immigrants and arrived in New York in the 1950s. They met here, had three kids, and I was a surprise years later. I was raised with a strong sense of Irish culture and pride with a big extended family – although my dad clearly had a chip on his shoulder. I heard stories of “Irish need not apply” signs from decades earlier. We were the minority ethnic group in our small town. My dad was also very racist, proudly telling me that there were no Black people in Ireland.
When the Irish arrived in America in the 1800s and settled mostly in the northeast, they were considered dirty heathens, an almost sub-human species, relegated to the worst work. That is, the worst except for the unpaid work performed by enslaved Black people in the South. The Irish ultimately overcame this perception by getting jobs in police and fire departments, as domestic workers, and proving themselves as hard-working civil servants. They also bonded with other people with white skin by being racist. My dad was a by-product of this. It’s what he learned. When you have no power, the fastest way to get it is to create a common enemy.
This St. Patrick's Day, I’ve already texted my family, had a scone, listened to some Irish music, and later I’ll eat a Flake chocolate bar and have a Guinness. I absolutely LOVE my culture, and I'm going to celebrate my culture -- but damn, am I aware of my privilege.
Here are the good vibes I found this week:
Critical Care Physician Creates Curly Hair Kits for Patients
Dr. Kay Jacobs, a critical care physician at a children’s hospital in Illinois, realized that her Black intensive care patients sometimes experienced “adverse hair events” while being treated. The supplies provided weren’t suitable for Black hair, so Dr. Jacobs ordered the appropriate hair products, packaged them as kits for the patients, and often assembled them at home. The kits are now available throughout her hospital, although she’s working to make them available through the entire health system. This matters because it’s about being seen and included by the people caring for you. That, in turn, brings dignity and confidence.
Allstate Is Listening to Employees
Allstate is a wonderful example of a large company doing employee flexibility right. After surveying employees early in the pandemic, the company sold its large corporate headquarters in Illinois and bought a smaller, more flexible space across the street. Now 75% of Allstate employees work from home, 24% are hybrid, and 1% are office-based. As a result, Allstate has seen a 30% increase in diverse candidates and a 456% increase in internal applicants for leadership roles. This matters because employees value flexibility, yet many companies have mandated a return to the office, and strict policies make positions less attractive to women and underrepresented people.
Walmart Has Designed Inclusive Uniforms for Workers
Walmart, a company appearing in 5 Things more regularly these days, has unveiled seven vests for employees, including those for people in a wheelchair and those who are pregnant. The other vests include one for those who are short-stature; use medical devices; one without a zipper; and one for employees who are deaf/hard of hearing which has text on the back that reads “Deaf or hard of hearing. Please get my attention.” I love this story. These inclusive vests mean a wider variety of people can be employed at Walmart, and feel more comfortable in their uniform.
Gov. Whitmer Signs Bill Expanding Michigan Civil Rights Law to Include LGBTQ Protections
The U.S. state of Michigan recently updated its anti-discrimination policies to be LGBTQ-inclusive. As you may know, in the U.S., sexual orientation and gender identity are only explicitly protected classes in about half the states. In the others, it’s perfectly legal to discriminate in housing and public accommodations (stores, restaurants, hotels, etc). Michigan just made it a little bit safer to be out as LGBTQ in its state. This matters because the community is under attack by 350+ anti-LGBTQ bills under consideration in the U.S.
New VA Mission Statement Recognizes Sacred Commitment to All Veterans, Their Families, Caregivers, and Survivors
After surveying 30,000 diverse veterans, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has updated its mission statement to be more inclusive. It previously read: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise ‘to care for him who shall have borne the battle, and for his widow, and his orphan by serving and honoring the men and women who are America’s veterans.” and now reads “to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.” This update is inclusive of all veterans, of all genders, and also acknowledges the important role of those who love and care for those veterans.
Call to Action:
Ramadan begins on Wednesday. Check out these tips from Yasar Ahmed on how non-Muslims can be allies this Ramadan.