Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Racial Diversity in Cohousing

[Kathleen Lowry (kathleenlowrylpcclmft]

Yes, that is my understanding. And the white culture lacks the”I have your 
back- don’t have to ask” norm and other nice-to-have cultural norms that 
cultures of color often have (or so I’ve witnessed and been told.). Small 
sample though. 

> On Feb 18, 2023, at 8:46 AM, Zev Paiss <zevpaiss [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> Friends,
> While I applaud the desire to have racial diversity in our Cohousing 
> communities, what is required for this to happen is typically far beyond the 
> ability (or comfort level) of most current residents or development 
> professionals. I do not say this lightly as diversity is something I have 
> worked to achieve for the past 30 years.
> 
> Racial diversity appears to be a desire of the mostly white upper middle 
> class college educated residents. Why is that?
> 
> I worked on a Denver Cohousing project many years ago where low income 
> residents were the primary demographic. A comment from a black pastor 
> highlighted the challenge. When white folks think of diversity, they imagine 
> having at least one black, Hispanic, and Asian household in their community 
> to help satisfy their desire for racial diversity. From the perspective of 
> the black community they would begin with 50% black households and go from 
> there. I am curious how us lilly white residents would feel living in a 
> cohousing neighborhood where 50% of your neighbors are black, use language 
> you might consider offensive. (Yo nigga wass up?) and sharing meals where 
> vegan and vegetarian options are nowhere to be seen?
> 
> As much as we would like to add this kind of diversity I do not see existing 
> coho residents being up for the task. My opinion only.
> 
> Zev Paiss
> Nomad Cohousing, Founding Member
> Boulder, CO
> 720-232-3826
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