America - An Experiment in Diversity Training

I have found Social Justice to be a test of patience. Jill mentioned in response to my last post, "In discussions of race, it's my perception that people of color are "privileged" to speak the truth of their experience and perception in ways that "white people" are not."

I guess, as an 'other' of American society, it is frustrating to 'get it,' to see the underlying race implications throughout American culture and society, and then see how few people truly understand the tacit social norms and moors that reinforce the separateness of American society. People are deathly afraid of being racist. The moment you are labeled as 'racist,' the witch-hunt begins and suddenly your entire existence is negated. It truly is one of the worst things you can be called in America - a bigot, a racist...

There are personal experiences that surface when discussing identity politics. As a child I went to a diverse elementary. There were multiple times that I was selected to present my work before the school or to perform in front of an assembly of students. Once, I recited the morning Pledge of Allegiance; another time I read an essay aloud about why Francone Elementary is the best school (although I was 8 years old and had no other comparison - a great PR cuteness-scheme); another time I was the lead role in the 3rd grade play about How Cowboys Learned to Say YipeeKieYay...

These selections instilled an idea of 'privilege' within myself and created the dangerous snowball of being someone 'special.' Throughout much of my life, I attributed the selections to merit and talent within me. It was not until later in life when I searched through my own definitions of identity, that I begin to realize the other viewpoint. I was the posterboy for diversity at Francone Elementary.

Undoubtedly, I was not just selected due to my ethnic background, but there is a level of "let's get the cute Asian boy up on stage." I appeared on the news as a child during "Western Day." I was a very visible facet of Francone Elementary's, Cypress Fairbanks ISD's public relations strategy.

Later in life I worked at a law firm. The firm was largely conservative and had a very traditional, professional work culture. Until recently I had not noticed that months before I was hired, there were two Asian attorneys and one Hispanic Legal Assistant. Starting with the Legal Assistant, whom was hired a couple months before me, there was a string of 4 hires in a row that were all people of color. Two of those hires were completely unskilled for the positions they were hired for. So ultimately, I may have been involved in a diversity strategy.

I do not necessarily believe that the aforementioned situations involved deliberate discussion and strategy to select me because of my 'coloredness' or 'ethnic-qualities,' but it does hint at a deep unconscious strategy that permeates through American culture. There is an idea that to be a good American one consumes, works hard, champions equality, votes and raises a good family.

My selections in these processes may have, to some extent, tugged at the American quality of equality. I was a trendy selection in a society discussing affirmative action, race relations, diversity of workplaces, etc.

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As we move forward in delving deeper and deeper into how our social minds have been developed, it is my hope that people will give credence to the fact that our minds are shaped by the surrounding world. There is much that we do that is cultural; in fact I would make the argument that every decision we make is cultural. Blame my sociological perspective and my BA in Sociology and American Studies. My studies of American society largely focused on identity politics and American identity from the Cold War up to the 70s.

It boils down to the same idea every single time. To be American is to be different. It is to be an individual. It is the fact that we are all different, individuals that makes us all the same. Now if we could only realize this AND accept these facts then maybe we can began to truly understand each other and speak from a similar place.

People often ask how to expand their minds, how to approach differences (of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, etc). I still believe the answer is extremely easy and in front of everyone. Just talk to each other. Do not avoid people because you think they are different or you will not be able to communicate. Inquiry and genuine appreciation exposes the core traits we all share. We all eat, breathe, sleep, love, hurt... These are the facts.