Home » Because of Historical Injustices, Academic Diversity Has Come to the Forefront

Reprint

Diversity challenges occur on many levels: academic, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural, amongst others. Of course, here we are talking about the underrepresented. We are talking about differences. But that which lies at the foundation of these differences and connects us all is the need to be respected and to respect. We acquire the former through the latter. First we must respect ourselves, then others, and, ultimately, we get respect, a concept of great importance, especially in a democracy where according to John Adams, in order to be successful we must use consideration (careful, reasoned thinking and anticipation of others needs) and compromise. But where does this cycle of respect begin? I'd be pretentious if I were to say with the teacher, but, of course, it must begin in the home. However, if it has not been acquired there then the teacher is the next line of defense. Through her or his efforts the student can be enlightened to the potential of uniqueness and the necessity of its acceptability, and ultimately, its function as one moves along the road to respect for oneself and others. Let me illustrate.

To motivate my students, to inspire them to achieve, I have enlightened them as to the variety of people who were failures or who had to overcome great adversity before achievement (Abraham Lincoln, Anwar Sadat, Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez), and how they overcame socioeconomic, personal, and marginalized-status challenges to achieve success. These people overcame diversity and adversity to achieve and to use as an impetus for change for others of like ilk. The student learns that it is through trials that one is refined and strengthened for the adversities of life, and through one's diversity the student may reach out to others of similar or equal challenges and motivate and guide them towards achievement. It is only through adversity that one brings about achievements both grand and modest yet oftentimes equal in worth.

There is nothing greater than diversity. What a plain and simple world it would be without unique cultures, traditions, challenges, and opinions. It is here in the United States where our government was set up to potentially aid a diverse people in overcoming challenges through rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The Decleration of Independence states an ideal that we continue to work towards: all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. Of course, at that time "men" didn't include minorities or even poor white men, and certainly not women. But since the late 18th century we have made great strides towards this ideal, even this election has seen a woman, a black man, and a Mormon run for office.

Diversity and multculturalism are two concepts that attempt to amend the injustices inflicted on minorities (cultural, religious) and women in our early history. May God be with us as we continue to thwart efforts by individuals and groups anywhere to take away the rights of any individual, that we may make greater and greater efforts in looking at all we come in contact with as equals. In God's eyes, ideally, all his children are equal. May we be blessed to see all his children from His eyes and not from the eyes of a lesser, biased more human mind.

 

Here's a couple more articles that expand on important aspects of the issue:

Diversity Means They will be Different

Diversity Training: How to Identify and Resolve Unconscious Discrimination in the Workplace