Once in a while, my friend K and I get into terse conversations, usually something related to politics. In spite of our very similar backgrounds, he is as right-leaning as I am left-leaning. He is by all accounts a very successful Black Engineer, often making it on to lists of the most infuential UK Engineers (deservedly so in my opinion).
Our most recent difference of opinion was on the value of specual lists of excellence based on ethnicity or demography. In his view, those should not exist as they devalue the efforts the individuals recognised on those lists have made, especially if the perception is that the bar has been set lower. It is an argument I recognise, particularly given the default explanation for success or promotions in some quarters seems to be to explain them away as DEI writ large.
For their flaws, and the over reach on the part of their detractors, I see real value in them, mainly from the perspective of representation. When pushed, he had to admit that his standing in industry has been mentioned by much younger peers as a reason to persist in this highly technical discipline. To a lesser extent, I have had people say the same to me.
A bit of bothsidedism perhaps, but this is truly one of those where nuance is king.
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