Re: How committed is your group to diversity? | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Grace Potts (gracethepottshouse.org) | |
Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 08:26:36 -0700 (PDT) |
However, that doesn't mean this discussion isn't important. In fact, any cohousing group that don't process these and/or other such scenarios really haven't done the work of exploring diversity. These WEMs are "committed to diversity" in name only and I suspect their membership will reflect that.
Diane-I really only have one thing to say - Right ON Sister!! Amandla! (my arms raised in solidarity :o) But that isn't really a contribution to the conversation, so I'll try to build on what you've said in some meaningful way.
First of all, we should acknowledge that there are more than a dozen kinds of diversity. Most, if not all cohousing groups are diverse in some way or another. But I think this particular element of racial-cultural-economic diversity is a bit of a bug-a-bear. Some folks do make a very genuine effort to gain this sort of diversity in their groups, some don't, but most claim to aspire to it in some way.
The piece of the truth that I think I see is: It would somehow be 'inappropriate' to not seek this kind of diversity, so groups say that they are seeking it whether or not it is a genuine core issue for the group. I think that is a mistake.
Building and creating racial-cultural-economic diversity (those three things in my experience go hand-in-hand) is a big, hard job to undertake as a WEM in American society. I am reminded of a magazine article directed at liberal, northeast whites in the 1960's - "How to meet Negroes"; the idea being that getting outside of your group was so challenging, you could use a how-to primer. Getting outside of your group and building honest relationship hasn't gotten much easier in the intervening 40 years. So unless you *really* mean it, don't say you're looking for this sort of diversity... It's a bit of a slap to people of color. (sort of the way I personally take the term "African-American" - Oh, how sweet, they've thought up another pet-name for us... but I digress)
And if you do really mean it, be prepared to embrace a lot of work, and uncomfortable conversations. You'll be richer for the effort though.
pax Christi! GP grace [at] thepottshouse.org 734.975.1293 Mourning JPII in Ann Arbor ---------------------------------------------------------
-
How committed is your group to diversity? Diana Chung, April 14 2005
- Re: How committed is your group to diversity? Dahako, April 15 2005
- Re: How committed is your group to diversity? Grace Potts, April 15 2005
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