But gradually, what began as a way for Jim to experience inclusion and equality served its purpose.

【翻译】但渐渐地，吉姆开始尝试包容和平等的方式达到了目的。

what 在本句没有疑问的含义，而是一个融合性关系代词（身兼两职，既是先行词又是关系代词），等于 the thing that，what began as a way for Jim to experience inclusion and equality 作句子的主语，served its purpose 是谓语，“达到目的”。