All I want is fairness.

Diversity is touted the world over as some kind of panacea for a core societal malaise of discrimination against a group. The discriminating group is usually the one in power, but need not be the majority in that society. In many countries, certain sub groups are completely or partially excluded from power, and their economic growth opportunities tamed.

In the United States and much of the western world, the parties most discriminated against are blacks. Over the last 50 years, there's has been some efforts to right this wrong. A wrong that suppresses the opportunities available to black people in all aspects of life. One of the key tool policy makers always turn to is "diversity"

Diversity as described is a tool used to ensure representation of all groups at different levels of society's socioeconomic strata. The problem with diversity though is that it gives the impression that black people are being propped up, even if they are not deserving of the opportunities. This is false, and more harmful that it helps.

Genius, skills, tenacity, talent are well distributed among humans regardless of their race, religion or region of birth or origin. Those who argue otherwise have been proven misguided and misinformed over the centuries. Organizations should deviate from diversity as a goal, but rather be fair.

Fairness implies giving every person the same shot, without any innate bias. Bias in America is well document, as is in most western nations. In some cases those biases are not even in favor of the group in power. For example, there's a bias that people of Asian origin tend to be very hardworking and academically studios. This bias become a factor in academic and work recruitment to the detriment of other groups. In reality, this bias is not born out.

If decision makers stop looking at names, religion, skin color, region of origin, place of education or prior employment; facts that help build bias but little impact on the actual person, we can begin to approach some level of fairness.

Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and US Government are not predominantly white because of lack of diversity. They are so because of lack of fairness. When a black man stands to pitch a idea, they are usually looked down on. The people in the room tend to not want to listen and make derogatory remarks meant to demean. When a white kid with much less credentials or reputation presents same idea, they are lauded as messiah. That is not lack of diversity, it is shear unfairness.

As a black man, I hate the term diversity, because it sounds like someone is giving me something I would not otherwise deserve or be qualified for. It diminishes our achievements and contributions to society. It excludes us from honors and opportunities we would otherwise merit. I don't want to be part of a diversity program. I want equal opportunities, and equal access.

Indeed, too many blacks are victims of institutional economic suppression for generations, so bad that they need extra help to get out of a deliberate malaise foisted by policies. We can be honest about that and design a policy to lift people up and pay reparation for past damage. However, equality and fairness is a much better policy,  more humane policy, than diversity.