Emerging Voices: Rashaad & Cornelius

Rashaad: Diversity is more than just a placeholder or a seat the table. The inclusion part is what you actually have to do. I think that’s where I get the most frustrated. I would just say to brands or all these different companies that are springing up, that in order to thrive, they’re going to have to think about diversity in order to continue.

And that people are watching, so it’s something that can’t be ignored. People see when they go to your website and they see that you don’t have diversity. It’s something that’s clear. And so I would urge people that are in the design and tech communities to really think about how they are going to make that happen, or to like survive through the economic, you know, tide.

Cornelius: This is especially for anyone just getting started… Do not be afraid to be yourself. Sometimes you might feel pressure, or you might put pressure on yourself to like fit in, or do things like you don’t normally do. Like you don’t dress like you normally dress, or wear your hair the way you want to wear it, just do it. And if someone has a problem with it then you’re in an area you don’t want to be in. The sooner you feel more comfortable with yourself, and expressing that version of yourself, the better you are for it. And the better that you are making the environment around you as well.

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