The Illusion of Black and White Squares – A Reflection on Leadership, Society, and the Natural Desire for Diversity
If you’ve ever seen the distinctive black and white checkerboard floors in historic buildings, churches, or even Freemason lodges, you’ve witnessed a powerful visual metaphor. These squares represent a world divided, an idea that leadership — both historically and in modern times — has relied on to maintain control. It’s a visual depiction of a binary society where the lines between the powerful and the oppressed, the rich and the poor, the privileged and the marginalized are clearly drawn. In this analogy, the white squares represent the wealthy and powerful, while the black squares symbolize everyone else. But here’s the truth: this depiction of society as black and white is a lie, a carefully maintained piece of propaganda designed to make us believe that these divisions are natural and permanent. In reality, all humans exist in shades of gray. We are diverse, nuanced, and complex. We don’t fit neatly into binary categories. We are the lines in between, and we thrive in environments...