Why REDI? (Why not DEI?)

We’ve all heard about DEI—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—but have you ever stopped to ask why race isn’t taking center stage in these conversations? 

At The Equity Lab, we have, and that’s why we shifted our focus to Race, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (REDI).

DEI, as widely practiced, has certainly pushed us forward in creating diverse and inclusive spaces. But by placing race alongside other identities, it risks watering down the most crucial element: the deeply entrenched and specific injustices tied to race. We lead with race because it forces us to confront the core issue that has shaped so much of our history and continues to impact us today. 

Why Race is Central in the U.S. Context

In the U.S., race is the primary axis of oppression. From slavery to segregation, from redlining to mass incarceration, systemic racism has shaped our institutions and continues to limit opportunities for communities of color. 

While gender, sexuality, ability, and other forms of diversity matter deeply, none of these exist apart from the race-based inequities that lay the groundwork for exclusion. By placing race at the forefront, we address the root cause of many forms of injustice. As the renowned James Baldwin once said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced.” 

And face it, we must.

What’s Wrong with DEI Alone?

DEI is a step in the right direction, but here’s the truth: it often treats race as one checkbox in a list of many, placing it on equal footing with other types of diversity in a way that obscures racial disparities. 

When race gets bundled into a broader, less focused diversity effort, we miss the chance to really dig deep into the heart of racial inequity. Take gender equity, for example—while DEI efforts may work to promote women in the workplace, the specific struggles faced by Black women, who endure both racism and sexism, can easily be lost in the shuffle.

Even worse, DEI can sometimes become an exercise in optics, where emphasis is on representation over structural change. Adding a few people of color to a boardroom or leadership team without addressing the systemic biases that exclude them in the first place is little more than tokenism. The result? A workplace that may look diverse on paper, but where the power dynamics remain untouched.

We’ve Said It Before, We’ll Say It Again

Our journey toward centering race in our work didn’t start overnight. When The Equity Lab first launched the Fellowship for Race & Equity in Education (FREE) in 2014, we were already grappling with these questions. That fellowship was created to tackle racial inequities in schools and institutions across the country, but we realized something important along the way: education is just one lever of change. The inequities we were addressing in schools were connected to broader systems of oppression in housing, healthcare, and the criminal justice system.

That’s why, in 2018, we rebranded to The Equity Lab—broadening our vision and impact to reflect the full scope of our work. The shift to REDI is a natural progression of that vision. By leading with race, we are expanding beyond educational spaces to confront systemic racism wherever it exists, across all sectors of society. REDI is the next evolution of what FREE started, pushing us further in our commitment to dismantling inequities and transforming communities.

Why REDI Leads to Real Change

By leading with race, REDI tackles the most enduring form of discrimination head-on. It ensures that solutions go beyond surface-level fixes. 

We’re not saying race is the only issue—it’s the starting point. When you address racial inequities first, you naturally begin to solve other injustices, whether they relate to gender, ability, socioeconomic status, or beyond. This approach pushes us to ask tough, necessary questions, like: Who benefits from this policy? How are communities of color affected? What historical forces have shaped the inequities we see today?

REDI doesn’t just invite these questions—it demands them. And in doing so, it unlocks the potential for real, transformative change.

The Power of Intersectionality

Centering race doesn’t mean sidelining other forms of identity. On the contrary, it amplifies them. A Black transgender woman, for example, doesn’t just experience racism or transphobia in isolation—she endures both in deeply interconnected ways. 

REDI allows us to explore these intersections with the depth they deserve, developing solutions that address the full spectrum of injustice. By focusing on race, we don’t diminish other experiences—we create a framework that makes space for them all.

Pushing Beyond Symbolism

REDI doesn’t stop at diversity or inclusion—it’s about dismantling power structures. Diversity alone isn’t enough if the systems that uphold inequity remain untouched. Inclusion isn’t enough if marginalized voices don’t have actual decision-making power. And equity? It requires us to go beyond “equal opportunity” and recognize that historical and present-day injustices mean that communities of color often start from entirely different places.

When we lead with race, we’re not just changing the conversation—we’re changing the systems that perpetuate inequality.

The Courage to Confront Discomfort

Race is an uncomfortable topic. In the U.S., people often shy away from it because it forces them to confront painful truths about our past and present. But at The Equity Lab, we believe that true progress requires discomfort. 

We’ve chosen to lean into that discomfort because we know that the hardest conversations often yield the most meaningful results. When we center race, we’re signaling a commitment to honesty, vulnerability, and transformation that runs deeper than any symbolic gesture could ever reach.

We’re ready to lead with race, right alongside you. 

At The Equity Lab, we believe that leading with race isn’t just a framework—it’s a movement toward lasting, systemic change. Through our REDI initiatives, we create spaces where tough conversations are welcomed, and where communities of color can lead the charge in dismantling the systems that have historically oppressed them. By centering race in our work, we unlock deeper possibilities for equity, justice, and collective liberation.

Ready to learn how The Equity Lab can help your organization lead with race and build more equitable systems? Connect with our team today, and let’s create transformative change together.