Incorporating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in storytelling is more than just a trend; it’s a reflection of the world we live in and an opportunity to reach a broader audience. However, there’s a fine line between creating meaningful representation and forcing DEI elements in ways that can feel inauthentic, preachy, or disconnected from the narrative. As an African American creator myself, I’ve navigated these challenges in my work, including my story The Dark Ichalocha of Terres Nei, which features characters of all races, including strong white heterosexual males.
In this blog, I want to offer guidance on how to incorporate DEI in a way that enhances your story rather than detracting from it. These tips are meant to help you create content that resonates with a diverse audience without alienating anyone.
1. Create Your Own Source Material
One of the biggest pitfalls in modern media is the alteration of established source material to fit contemporary DEI agendas. We've seen this happen in comic books, classic movies, TV shows, and other beloved content. When creators take existing characters or stories and alter their essence to fit a modern narrative, it often results in a loss of authenticity and effectiveness. Worse, it can be seen as creatively lazy. Instead of changing what already exists, create your own material. Starting from scratch allows you to fully realize your ideas and bring something new and original to the table.
When you create your own characters and plots, you have the freedom to explore DEI themes in ways that feel organic and true to the story. This creative process is far more rewarding and allows for a deeper connection between you and your audience. By developing your own characters, you can craft nuanced personalities that reflect a wide range of experiences without being constrained by pre-existing narratives.
2. Create Great Characters and Plots That Everyone Can Get Behind
At the heart of every great story are characters and plots that resonate with a broad audience. Avoid creating boss characters who are already nerfed to their highest potential—these characters tend to be boring because they lack room for growth. Instead, focus on the Hero’s Journey, where characters undergo personal development, facing mental, spiritual, and physical challenges along the way.
A well-crafted character should have goals, trials, and tribulations that allow the audience to invest in their journey. This development should feel natural, with the character evolving as the plot unfolds. Whether your character is grappling with societal injustices or personal demons, their journey should be one that the audience can relate to on some level.
3. Avoid Preachiness in Social Politics
It’s essential to be mindful of how you incorporate social and political themes into your story. While it’s important to raise awareness of societal issues, these themes should be integrated metaphorically rather than overtly. A great example of this is the movie V for Vendetta. The film uses a fictional totalitarian regime to explore themes of oppression, control, and resistance, without directly preaching to the audience about real-world politics.
By weaving social issues into your narrative in a subtle and thoughtful way, you allow the audience to draw their conclusions without feeling like they are being lectured. This approach not only respects the intelligence of your audience but also makes the story more engaging and thought-provoking.
4. Avoid Gender and Sexual Preference Bashing
In the pursuit of DEI, it’s important to avoid bashing any gender or sexual preference. Unfortunately, in recent years, we've seen a rise in media that unfairly targets straight heterosexual men and women simply for existing. This kind of content does more harm than good, as it alienates large segments of the audience and undermines the message of inclusion.
Your goal should be to create content that honors everyone, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. True DEI means respecting and representing all identities without resorting to negative stereotypes or unfair criticism. By focusing on shared human experiences, you can create stories that resonate with a wide audience while promoting a message of unity and understanding.
5. Respect Traditional and Cultural Values
In the rush to promote modern values, it’s easy to overlook the importance of traditional and cultural values. However, respecting these values is crucial if you want your content to be truly inclusive. Traditionalists, like everyone else, deserve to have their beliefs and practices respected in the media they consume.
True wokeness, in its esoteric sense, values everyone. This means acknowledging that people have a right to their own ideologies, spiritual beliefs, and cultural practices. By respecting these values in your content, you not only broaden your audience but also foster a deeper connection with those who may feel marginalized by modern narratives.
6. Woke Alienations Can Alienate Potential Financial Gain
One of the most practical reasons to avoid forced DEI content is the potential for alienating your audience, which can have a direct impact on your financial success. When you alienate a significant portion of your potential viewers or readers by forcing a particular narrative, you risk losing their support.
Respectful DEI content, on the other hand, has the potential to resonate with a wider audience, leading to positive reviews, increased viewership, and, ultimately, greater financial success. It’s important to remember that media is a business, and alienating your audience can have serious financial repercussions.
7. Avoid Personal and Real-Life Victimization
While it’s natural for creators to draw from personal experiences, it’s important to avoid turning your story into a platform for personal grievances. No one cares about your problems but you, and turning your characters into vehicles for your victimization can come off as self-indulgent and off-putting. NO BODY GIVES A FUCK ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS OR FEELINGS (Except for other self-victimizers). Everyone has problems that no one cares about. You are not any different.
So, instead channel your experiences into your characters in a way that serves the story. Use metaphor and symbolism to explore themes of victimization without making it too personal or overt. This allows the audience to relate to the character’s struggles without feeling like they are being subjected to the creator’s personal agenda.
8. Respect One's Culture, History, and Folklore
Respecting culture, history, and folklore is paramount in creating content that is both respectful and inclusive. This ties back to the importance of creating your own source material, but it also extends to how you handle existing cultural narratives.
In 2024, we've seen a troubling trend of companies trying to force DEI into Asian media, often clashing with the deeply rooted cultural values of countries like China and Japan. Take, for example, the controversy surrounding Black Myth: Wukong. This game draws heavily from Chinese mythology, and attempts to inject modern DEI into such content can feel out of place and disrespectful.
Asian countries take great pride in their history, myths, and legends. For creators to impose DEI narratives onto these cultural treasures not only shows a lack of respect but also undermines the integrity of the original stories. It’s important to remember that DEI should enhance the narrative, not force it to conform to modern Western ideals.
Conclusion
Respecting source material, creating your own content, and honoring the diverse values and beliefs of your audience are the keys to producing respectful DEI in media. When done right, DEI can add depth and richness to your story, making it more engaging and relatable. However, when forced or overly preachy, it risks alienating your audience and detracting from the story you’re trying to tell.
As creators, our responsibility is to craft narratives that resonate with as many people as possible while staying true to the characters and worlds we create. By respecting traditional and cultural values, avoiding forced narratives, and focusing on character development and plot, we can create content that is truly inclusive and stands the test of time.
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