It is difficult to understand how
people see the world differently than you, especially when that view is
opposite, controversial or even ignorant. I was asked in class to debate a
simple topic on race, and in doing so heard what is hopefully not the majority
opinion among my 200 classmates. The topic of debate is irrelevant. What
matters is how the arguments were presented, often “othering” a group of people
in this case being minorities.
As a Black Women from liberal San
Francisco, every time I hear a comment that is not race, gender, or sexuality
sensitive I am enraged, ready to inform the person of their lack of couth. However, being in Utah has helped me understand
that maybe these comments are not made from the heart, but rather, a lack of
understand about what is offensive to some people.
I believe this is because (at
least as far as race goes) there is one dominate race at USU and some people
think if they are part of it, they are not diverse. However this is false. It is important that people understand what
makes you diverse is not being a minority or the color of your skin; it goes down
to who you are as a person. And even when your culture matches those of the majority,
you are still a diverse individual, because you are just that: an individual. It’s
crazy to think that there are 7 billion people in the word, and yet not one can
possibly interpret things the exact same way as you. This unique thought
process is the essence of being yourself, making you a diverse person.
If this notion of self-diversity
was more present on campus, I believe fewer people would fear what they
consider the “other;” for every single person would be seen as someone
remarkably and beautifully different.
But of course this is only my
opinion. Please comment and tell me how you define diversity.
Your friend in The Access and
Diversity Center,
Mariah
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