Kevin Calhoun spent years doing HR and DEI work from inside some of the biggest corporations in the world. He watched those programs get built. Then he watched them get dismantled — and found himself displaced in the process. In this conversation, recorded in honor of Juneteenth, Kevin introduces the concept of James Crow: Jim Crow's more dangerous, more invisible cousin. The one with a hiring algorithm instead of a shotgun.
Notable Timestamps (verify against final audio before publishing)
03:03 — Kevin reads from his article "James Crow and Visa, Everywhere You Want to Be" — the line that stopped Allison cold
04:37 — How corporate culture shifted from servant leadership to "we're going in a different direction"
07:40 — The grief nobody talks about: losing your corporate identity in a 30-minute meeting
09:05 — The stats: DEI fell 98% in Fortune 100 communications; Black unemployment now twice white unemployment
11:47 — Performative DEI vs. real DEI — how to tell the difference
13:49 — Costco held the line against 19 attorney generals. Why some companies stay and others fold.
15:15 — What Kevin learned about not seeking validation from your organization
17:15 — The pendulum: why organizations that hold their values win long-term
20:38 — Jim Crow vs. James Crow — Kevin defines the difference
28:15 — Code switching, agency, and choosing when to show up fully as yourself
33:24 — How to find your way forward when the system has failed you
36:56 — "No company loves you." What Kevin knows that he wishes more people understood
38:58 — If you know the rules of the game before you start playing, you can't be mad if you don't win
Rather watch on YouTube? https://youtu.be/ixqV4X5EqJ8
Resources & Links Mentioned
Kevin's article: "James Crow and Visa, Everywhere You Want to Be" - available on Substack and Medium
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