Thoughts on Teen Vogue and Alexi McCammond

How should companies respond in these scenarios?

Photo by Crawford Jolly on Unsplash

As an Asian American, I have a lot to process and this news about Alexi McCammond isn’t the most important but it is the easiest to write and share with the world. Of course, I’m appalled by the comments she made back in 2011 but if I were a decision-maker in Teen Vogue, I think I would respect her decision to resign but I’m not sure I would simply accept it.

Intuitively, here is a list of my gut reactions.

• Her words are something I can forgive easily had I read them in 2011.
• If she’s truly doubling her efforts in growing wouldn’t being the editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue be a good place and platform to show all of that?
• It’s unfortunate that a woman of color is resigning from a high-profile position in the media.
• How many times have we seen this story, with a different ending when it was a white man who has said or done something worse years prior?

I’m having a hard time trying to articulate and unpack those gut reactions, but I can’t help but wonder if there’s a more effective way that we could help people who have questionable past but are trying to be better. The journey to being an anti-racist is not a linear one, and it’s an active practice. I think we’re doing the movement a disservice by not having a clear path on how to transform a perpetrator to become an anti-racist.

For me personally, I know I still have a lot of work to do but looking back I’m sure I’ve said some awful stuff when I was 17. I also know that even until now I still need to be more mindful with my language choices. I still inadvertently say “guys” instead of the more gender-neutral “folks” about 20% of the time. Recently, one of my best friends pointed out how I use “OCD” jokingly in describing my perfectionist tendencies, and so now I’m trying to practice using “perfectionist” instead. I don’t think that I was ever blatantly insensitive and racist, most of the things I did when I was younger were because of simply not knowing better. Being an immigrant to the US and English not being my first language means that for me there was a learning curve on what kind of language is derogatory and what’s ok.

Of course, social media doesn’t have the time to take into account the context of things said years ago. It’s too easy and instant to judge someone based on one of their worst mistakes rather than taking in the body of all their work after. But where do redemption, healing, and forgiveness fit in this kind of Cancel Culture that we create?

With all of these in mind, here are some ideas on how I would do things differently if I was in the leadership position of a company that has to decide the future of one of their employees based on something they did in the past.

I would evaluate how bad the comments are and how long ago it was done. Personally, it’s easier for me to forgive someone that stereotypes Asians as good in math versus someone that stereotypes Asians as sex workers. The former seems like an easy discussion and conversation to have on why someone shouldn’t do those things, the latter would need professional help.

I would hold a town hall or talk to every member of my team that is part of the community that was affected by this and hear their thoughts about it — are they willing to forgive? How could we create a safe space for them? If even one of them feels that they would no longer enjoy work because of the perpetrator then, yeah we would ask for their resignation. If the community affected feels it is redeemable, I would listen to everything they have to say in regards to how they feel, and steps on how to move forward.

I would also make all of this very transparent. I would ask the perpetrator how committed they are to becoming a better anti-racist and ally. I would also ask them to be very transparent and to share the steps they’re taking and invite suggestions.

I don’t know if these are the right things to do, but they’re the first steps I would take if ever I’m in a position to do so. I’m writing them down so I can remind myself if I need to refer to this in the future, edit them as I evolve, and more importantly, so y’all can call me out in the future if I stray away from these words. What would you do if you’re in a leadership position, and one of your team members is being haunted by their social media past?

I’m Ana, I typically write about Design, Social Equity, and Culture, but right now I’m exhausted, heartbroken, and mentally drained with everything happening in my AAPI community, so you might see more brain farts like this in the future. Follow along if you dare to step in with what goes on inside my mind.