Common Ground Corner: Reflections on living inclusively
BY GLYN HUGHES
Director of Common Ground
No doubt you've heard by now about the racist incident that occurred on campus just prior to spring break. As The Collegian reported, a noose with a black doll was found hanging in the Cousins Studio Theatre, with writing—"Long live art. Art is Dead"—on the floor below.
As news of the event spread, there was a wide range of responses. Many people, especially African-Americans, felt terrorized and were therefore scared and angry. Others, mostly white folks, felt that the event was being "blown out of proportion." Yes, the range of reactions was more complicated, even within these groups. Still, there was, I think, a failure of empathy.
As a result, our different racially linked responses to the event deserve our attention. The noose and doll didn't create our different perceptions, but the event certainly highlighted the fact that gaps exist and that those gaps interfere with our vision of inclusive diversity.
Perhaps, then, this is a good time for us all to consider this question: What does it mean to live a life of diversity and inclusion on a daily basis?
Of course, there is no single, final answer, because it is a question we need to ask over and over. For individuals and institutions, the answer comes from a determination to really do it. If we wake up every day challenging ourselves with the question, we will find a way—and there are many different paths to be sure.
All that said, here are a few of the principles that I try to put into practice myself. It's an incomplete list, to be sure. If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me directly.
- I try to always consider whether the perspectives of people from underrepresented groups are present in a given discussion. Then I try to ask hard questions about why certain perspectives are missing and do everything I can to bring those perspectives to the table. I try to notice patterns of exclusion and then ask hard questions of the social systems and attitudes that perpetuate those patterns.
- I strive to make empathy my first response (not always easy!), especially when someone or a group of people feels harmed or unsafe.
- I try to insist on meaningful, productive dialogue, to not shy away from talking about the difficult stuff (again, a real struggle!).
- I strive to understand and question my own privilege (as white, as male...), and I try to make it normal to talk about privilege on individual and systemic levels.
- I remind myself that this is an imperfect, long-haul process. I have to let go of the comforting idea that it is possible to figure it all out or to know for sure that what I'm doing is always right. And I need to make it safe for others to tell me if I'm not getting it.
If you have other ideas or reactions, please post them on our blog: Common Ground Discuss at www.urcommonground.typepad.com.
Common Ground is eager to work with anyone who wants to deepen their understanding of diversity and inclusion. So please contact us if that describes you.