My DEI Story: Larkin Willis

By Larkin Willis, Research and Policy Associate, Learning Policy Institute

I am from a small, Virginian town. My family is White and affluent, and I am an able-bodied, cisgender female. Like many others who share these identities, I wasn’t always aware of them. I had to learn how to recognize experiences and privileges that I once took for granted as ‘normal.’ Growing up, I frequently saw myself and my traditions reflected in my social world, in the curricula at my public school, and in the popular books and media I consumed. This is what Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie calls the danger of a single story:

“The single story creates stereotypes, and the problem with stereotypes is not that they are untrue, but that they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story.” 

I learned the single story through the things we talked about openly, and also the things we didn’t. For example, it wasn’t considered polite to talk about race. Adults often said things like, “we don’t see color.” This kind of statement minimizes racial identities, which are an important part of how many people see and experience the world. It also reinforces the single story by recognizing only the parts of a person’s identity that fit into it. I’ve heard-- and still hear-- people make statements like this for a wide range of identity markers. Taken together, they feed a misconception that individuals are worthy or accomplished in spite of factors such as gender, race, sexuality, or disability. In reality, our identities are additive: this entire blog series celebrates WGR members who are worthy and accomplished because of our diverse identities and experiences in life. The obstacles we overcome are not our own differences, but the systemic inequities that divvy opportunity and access along those lines of difference.

If you know me, you know my family is a big part of my life and a point of pride. I have three incredible siblings; two are gay. They have braved everyday encounters with people and spaces that are othering and even outright homophobic. Growing up, there was precious little visibility for LGBTQ community in our immediate lives or in mainstream media. Popular slang was openly derogatory. From an early age, I watched and was implicated as they navigated these adverse experiences. I am grateful to say that I’ve also seen my siblings tell their truths, be themselves unapologetically, and make this world a far better place because of it. These were my earliest lessons in allyship. I learned firsthand that progress doesn’t happen without friction, learning, growth, and action.

As an individual with privilege, that’s what my DEI story is all about: being open, unlearning, and evolving. I know that this work is never finished, and I know that it can’t be done alone. Part of what makes my WGR membership so valuable is the community of professionals committed to DEI, each with their own story, who challenge and support one another. I hope to see and learn with you at an upcoming conversation soon!

The WGR “My DEI Story” Blogs are featured monthly, highlighting the story of a DEI Committee Member or supporting ally. These blogs are designed to shine a light on the amazing diversity that exists within our community, and to recognize that EVERYONE has a DEI Story. Interested in having your story featured? Please send an email to dei.wgr@gmail.com.