Jason made sense. Connie asked good questions. But . . . both slipped into the use of "diversity" to mean POC. That really isn't what "diversity" is except for a workaround to saying non-white. I can understand the misuse of that word by pundits grappling for a word instead of "minorities," but Connie and Jason ought to purge that from their conversation. Diversity is about heterogeneity; once that's gone, no more diversity. Perhaps I'm being picayune but, IMO, the rhetoric of diversity should stick with the original dictionary definition.
Fair critique. Another one you will hear me using sometimes despite my hatred of it is "black community." I try not to but it does slip out more than I'm fond of. Same with using the word race at all. I try to say ethnic background or nationality instead. But if you follow me you know I don't value skin tone diversity in most instances. But alas diversity as a term has come to signal minority status and so people understand what I mean when I say it even if I disagree with the premise. Thank you for your feedback! Can always do better.
My vision for diversity is anchored in the record my father brought home: Ballad for Americans, sung by Paul Robeson (1939). I wrote about that ballad and Robeson's voice and the inspiration that still reverberates with me. If you have time, take a listen. https://youtu.be/LHCQGQdeL68?si=Y7FirAAcURWBm12X
Remembering the ‘Ballad for Americans’ — a Cantata for All of Us
That is a wonderful vision! I also appreciate the feedback. When I talk about "diversity" when working with groups I say, "Anytime there are more than two people in a room there's a "diverse group" and the more people added to the group and the more time they spend with each other the liklihood for conflict increases. The way to mitigate conflict is for the group to have at least one shared value that guides their work/mission."
Jason made sense. Connie asked good questions. But . . . both slipped into the use of "diversity" to mean POC. That really isn't what "diversity" is except for a workaround to saying non-white. I can understand the misuse of that word by pundits grappling for a word instead of "minorities," but Connie and Jason ought to purge that from their conversation. Diversity is about heterogeneity; once that's gone, no more diversity. Perhaps I'm being picayune but, IMO, the rhetoric of diversity should stick with the original dictionary definition.
Fair critique. Another one you will hear me using sometimes despite my hatred of it is "black community." I try not to but it does slip out more than I'm fond of. Same with using the word race at all. I try to say ethnic background or nationality instead. But if you follow me you know I don't value skin tone diversity in most instances. But alas diversity as a term has come to signal minority status and so people understand what I mean when I say it even if I disagree with the premise. Thank you for your feedback! Can always do better.
My vision for diversity is anchored in the record my father brought home: Ballad for Americans, sung by Paul Robeson (1939). I wrote about that ballad and Robeson's voice and the inspiration that still reverberates with me. If you have time, take a listen. https://youtu.be/LHCQGQdeL68?si=Y7FirAAcURWBm12X
Remembering the ‘Ballad for Americans’ — a Cantata for All of Us
In Times of San Diego
That is a wonderful vision! I also appreciate the feedback. When I talk about "diversity" when working with groups I say, "Anytime there are more than two people in a room there's a "diverse group" and the more people added to the group and the more time they spend with each other the liklihood for conflict increases. The way to mitigate conflict is for the group to have at least one shared value that guides their work/mission."