Over the last few years, Delta Air Lines has embraced the diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda under the purview of a chief officer who believes that the phrase “ladies and gentlemen” isn’t inclusive.
Delta’s Chief Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Social Impact Officer Kyra Lynn Johnson has said publicly Delta is striving to “boldly pursue equity” which has impacted every level of the company, from its hiring practices to the language it uses in gate announcements.
“So we’re beginning to take a hard look at things like our gatehouse announcements. You know, we welcome ‘ladies and gentlemen.’ And we’ve asked ourselves, ‘Is that as gender inclusive as we want to be?’”
Johnson said during a February 2021 panel with other DEI insiders. “You know, we’re looking at some legacy language that exists in some of our employee manuals. And getting to the root of the way some things are described and saying, ‘Does that actually send a message of inclusivity?’”
Delta released an inclusive language guide in December 2020 which advised employees and leaders against using terms that reinforce the notion that there are only two genders.
“Use gender-neutral language and pronouns. Do not use language that suggests a gender binary (male-female),” the Delta guide said.
A Delta spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the company encourages its employees to use inclusive language.
“Delta encourages our people to use language that is inclusive of everyone as our global customer base includes a broad range of diversity in cultural backgrounds, identity and experiences,” the spokesperson said.
Also, during the DEI panel in 2021, Johnson stressed how it was important to Delta to be an “antiracist company.”
“To really come out and say, as an organization, that we are an antiracist company was really important to us,” she said. “We are going to actively seek diversity.
We’re also talking about how we’re going to boldly pursue equity. And we’re talking about the steps we’re taking to consciously promote inclusion.”
The concept of being antiracist was significantly popularized by activist Ibram X. Kendi, with the publication of his book, “How to Be an Antiracist,” in 2019.
Some critics say that Kendi argues for current discrimination in order to atone for historical wrongs. Kendi believes, like Johnson, that it is not enough to not be racist; one must be an activist against racism.
