Diversity - Part 2 - What is Diversity
- Amazon: The Guides
Chapter One—Diversity
DIVERSITY IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PHENOMENON of the 21st century. Its central objective is to create humanly compatible living and working environments. Human compatibility is the crucial element in unifying people to achieve any goal they envision for themselves. For example, the creation of the United States of America was an event that unified 13 different colonies to form one republic. This event resulted in one of the most inclusive documents in human history—The Constitution of the United States of America. In practice, we are still trying to make the Constitution a reality in terms of compatibly embracing all the races, ethnicities, and cultures that comprise America.
The greatest challenge to achieving human compatibility is learning to become more adaptable to change, without the necessity of a crisis. For example, we tend to behave in a humanly compatible way when faced with situations that threaten property or human life. Like the events of 9/11 in the U.S. in 2001, the tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004, or the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans in 2005. We commonly respond to such events with an outpouring of empathy, compassion, and support for those who have suffered loss or tragedy. Such support transcends whatever differences there are in culture, religion, and even divergently different political systems. Unfortunately, each of these examples is an event that originated from a crisis. Our challenge is to learn how to live and work together constructively without the necessity of a crisis.
We begin this journey with a 21st century definition of diversity. A definition that is comprehensive, inclusive, and transforming. First, diversity is a comprehensive part of everything we do with others. Second, it involves an environment that compatibly embraces differences. And third, diversity involves a fundamental change in our acceptance of people who are different from ourselves. This is transformation. Using these criteria, I propose the following definition of diversity.
Diversity is a humanly compatible environment wherein differences are integrated:
- to acknowledge the equality of all people,
- to reconcile human conflict,
- to realize our inherent connectedness,
- to create the reality we desire,
- to ensure our survival as human beings,
- and ultimately, to create a unity of one human family.
In this sense diversity, human compatibility, and unity are synonymous.
When I was a practicing physical chemist, I participated in the founding of a new organization—The National Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers. Our major motivation for organizing was based upon the exclusion we experienced from the major chemical and chemical engineering organization in the U.S. In organizing, we had representation from corporations, academia, government, and research foundations. We discussed the right of such a small group to represent the larger group of black scientists and engineers. We concluded if not us, then who? The greatest controversy we experienced was the use of the word “Black” in our name. A few of the older members felt “very uncomfortable” with that word. One member who was highly respected suggested we sounded like radicals. (In retrospect, I think he was right.)
In spite of his objection, we prevailed in keeping the word in our name. He resigned from the group. The organization still exists today and has successfully aided in the recruitment of black students in science and engineering careers. I still have feelings of regret that we were not able to reconcile our differences regarding that word. During that time period it had strong implications regarding our search for identity. I have since learned that life is a never-ending process of reconciling differences to find common ground without compromising the necessary adaptation to change.
Differences Are an Inherent Part of Life
If you think about the variety of people you know, their different personalities and interests, there is diversity in your everyday experiences with them. Because of these differences, your relationship with each of them is unique. The key word in discovering how diversity is such a comprehensive part of our lives is “differences.” Differences in the way we are, differences in the ways we think, and differences in the ways we naturally do things. We refer to these categories as human diversity, cultural diversity, and systems diversity, respectively.
I recently went to a hardware store to buy a metal file for expanding the opening for a door lock. As I was directed and redirected among several aisles, I became increasingly frustrated. I finally arrived at the aisle where I believed the files were located. There was a store attendant with his back to me. I asked him politely where I could find files. He didn’t respond. So I asked again, louder. He continued to ignore me. Then I really became upset and decided to confront him. I walked around to face him and experienced the most heart-warming smile I had seen in years. He took out a small notebook and wrote “Can I help you find something?” It took me an eternity to realize he was deaf, although it was only a few seconds in real time. I stood there feeling stupid and embarrassed. Then I began laughing at myself. He started laughing too. Somehow I suspect he knew why I found the situation so amusing. That experience was a defining moment for me because I had a realization.
“People with disabilities are here to teach us how disabled we are.”
I call these nuggets of wisdom. As I often share with friends, I keep them in my back pocket to help guide me through the differences I encounter in life.
If you have a significant other in your life, you probably have unique differences in how you think and do things. She or he may drive slowly and methodically, you might drive fast and aggressively. She or he may be more conversation and relationship oriented, and you might be more solution and task oriented. She or he may be more “in the world, but not of the world” and you might be more practical and down to earth.
The first conclusion we come to is that:
“Differences are an inherent part of life.”
Everything we do with others involves differences between and among us. The second conclusion is that our experiences of differences are rarely neutral. They either play out constructively or counterproductively. And third, the more we learn to accept the differences in others, the more we experience the quality of relationship we desire. Quality relationships, based upon respect, trust, and equality, provide the foundation for unity.
