Racial inequity did not happen accidentally.
The overarching “Theory of Change” that serves as the foundation of DGEP is driven by the belief that the racial inequity challenges and problems that our global society faces in contemporary times did not happen accidentally or in a vacuum. These racial inequities were designed into every foundational system of our society. This was Racial Inequity by Design.
In order to hold any hope of achieving systematic racial equity as a global society, the design of such a system must be as intentional as the inequitable one. This theory of change is driven by the belief the there are no silver bullets to achieving such an equitable outcome, but that simultaneously it cannot be left to chance.
Thus, the theory of change that drives DGEP could not be described as one simple theory, but instead a series of complimentary racial equitable development frameworks and theories of change. However, even this is by design. Built on the foundation of complexity science, this effort believes that we cannot control complexity, but that we can harness it to achieve phenomenon at the system level through emergent properties. In other words, the simple answer is not always the correct one. Most importantly, our Theory of Change is dynamic and adaptable based on new information gathered through our real-time evaluatory feedback loop.
DGEP’s Theory of Change is powered by the Racial Equity by Design Triangle Offense: 1) STAMPS Ecosystem Model; 2) the 5 C’s of Community Economic Ecosystem Upbuilding; and 3) the 4 Pillars of Sustainable Inclusive Entrepreneurial Development.
Each of these distinct, but dynamic theoretical frameworks, create a foundational component to racial economic equity. Racial economic equity is the overarching theory of change in the DGEP Model – that there is no equity without equity. In a capitalistic society, in order to have relative social equity and well-being, there must be relative economic equity.
Thus at the center of the Triangle Offense is the intersectionality of Equitable Autonomous Power and Equitable Capital.
The Evidence Base
Though a fundamental premise of the DGEP Model is that continuous social and equity innovation are both critical and necessary to ever reaching racial equity as a society, the contemporary evidence driving this vision is that of two central cases of analysis.
The first – a meta-level case – is the understanding of how the current system of inequity by design. There are incredible amounts of STAMPS Ecosystem artifacts from this inequitably designed system – both historically and contemporarily; as well as from successful and unsuccessful efforts to change it. There are many lessons to learn from these past and current models.
The second – a combined individual/micro/macro-level case – is that of Durham’s Historic black Hayti community. Hayti, from roughly 1865-1958, might be the closest that America (and perhaps the world) has ever come to a mixed-race, racially equitable community economy. As a consequence, Durham’s Hayti holds many lessons for the rest of America, and perhaps the world.
It is from these cases that we believe a sufficient body of evidences exists to successfully create a global economic system built on racial equity by design. We know that for 400 years, racial inequity has sustained itself by paying for itself. We believe that racial equity by design – if implemented strategically – will show how racial equity can sustain and pay for itself over time. This will undoubtedly be a great, if not impossible tasks. However, it is time that our Theories of Change, and strategies, match the challenges they are set to overcome. After all, as James Baldwin professed, the history of the black community is a testament to the impossible.