Gaia: Racism Resurgence

Re: Racism ingrained and alive and well

http://StuartPeterson.gaia.com — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:35:40 GMT

Definitely a sobering and saddening video, thank you for sharing it. Did any pick up on the other form of racism going on in the clip? Our societies enslavement of women, specifically that to be considered beautiful, they must conform to a norm observable on any fashion magazine, in any movie, on any cable / satellite / tv show, seen in every public setting. The whole (-ism) is not merely about color. Its about discrimination and subjugation and programming anyone who knows no better, or is willing to conform to ideals that to be (insert positive label), you must be like (insert perpetuated false ideal label). So not only did the video correctly portray the blatant effects and issues still prevelant, but the ones most of us have been programmed to follow or believe without even knowing it.

Love and Light

Marginalization- Our society at large

http://StuartPeterson.gaia.com — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 22:17:34 GMT

Joel,

Thanks so much for your posting! It brought forward a more in depth analysis of what is occurring every day in businesses in the Untited States, and, virtually every country on the planet. Thanks also for opening the door on the subject that Racism is not just the Black White issue, but incorporates every other form of intolerance and discrimination there is. Perhaps Differentialism might be a more apt label. "They" are different in some fashion, therefore I will treat them differently...this is our society manifested, not just this country, but the globe with the exception of those whom have awakened to a higher concept...they are us, and we are them, the differences only serve to add unique perspective, insight, experential learning, and flavor. How often and how easy it is to marginalize because we observe someone on the gutter...in prison...on a different societal rung, and wherein lays the causation of that? We are all responsible, every one.

Love and Light

Re: What about Condoleeza Rice?

http://StuartPeterson.gaia.com — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:39:45 GMT

Honoring and standing up for the highest good regardless of creedo, color, gender, or philosophy is the path this spirit strives to keep on, for to do otherwise only results in the perpetuation of falsehood and all the attendant issues. When one compromises to support an ideal built on or supported by falsehoods, regardless of how desirable and pure the ideal is, it will crumble, because the foundation is rotten from the get go. Many long standing institutions and belief structures are collapsing for this very reason now. Do we try to build on sand and compromised values again, or have we learnt from our past any thing...

Love and Light

Re: Genomes, Race, and Ethnicity

http://StuartPeterson.gaia.com — Fri, 02 Feb 2007 00:28:51 GMT

Jo...!

Thanks for dropping back in...been hit and miss myself and completeley understand. Thanks for the link and insight...

Indeed, Racism is so old, and, existed before "we" had a label for it. US v.s. THEM...and, this spirit agrees that in a broader context, ethnicism is a more applicable and apt label.

That this issue has been ongoning since before "we" had language, and now that it is still happening in light of our "civilized" and "enlightened" nature presents perhaps one of the greatest paradoxes and cultural mysteries. Why do "we" continue to cling to it?

Obviously "we" are addicted to it, otherwise we'd have kicked the habit long ago.

Love and Light

Re: A Diverse Approach to Diversity Training is Needed

http://maryc.gaia.com — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 18:45:59 GMT

Hey Joel, thank you so much for saying this, and so very elegantly. I can tell you are a poet :-)

As a fellow OD consultant and diversity trainer, I think I have taken my perspective for granted, feeling closer to what you describe as needed today versus only bringing the perspective of the black-white paradigm. I'm really excited about having an explorative discussion on this -- so before I comment further I really want to make sure I'm understanding you and not making assumptions about what you mean.

I'm interested in more elaboration of the objectives you described. In objective #3 you mention retooling trainers to become more even-handed -- can you describe what that would look like? (I'm a person who needs pictures...) And when you say "innovative, avant-garde" diversity initiatives (#1) - can you give me examples?

I tend to be a direct person and sometimes my questions can feel too pointed. Please know that is not my intent. It's all good here.

Warmly,
Mary_C

Re: A Diverse Approach to Diversity Training is Needed

http://grendels-song.gaia.com — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:58:01 GMT

There is "a "Diversity Gap" between the desginated or preferred diversity groups or subjects, and new groups whose diversity needs are just as critical, but whose voice is not as powerful or as popular as their multi-cultural counterparts. In essence, the "old paradigm" doesn't even acknowledge that certain groups have a 'place at the table.' In the end, it creates and reinforces the very result that it was trying to avoid: cultural marginalization, alienation and exclusivity."

I'm so glad to see this being spoken about and addressed! You've expressed it so clearly.

The work of past generations is ready to shift into the next level (and really, it is already begun.) "With the advent of the 21st century, there appears to be a grander and more bold sensibility: inclusion. The 300 million milestone was important not only for numerical and statistical reasons, but philospical reasons as well: Social leaders are demanding that the American dream finally encompass a more global reality".

Many people who speak on issues of racism are as myopic as those people whose ideas they wish to change. This has always frustrated me. Still, it's a start, and valuable. It's the beginning of understanding and revealing the impact of marginalization and discrimination, and of looking at how to bring change.

Joel, thank you for bringing the "the new diversity paradigm" into our conversations, here.

bows,
crow

Re: A Diverse Approach to Diversity Training is Needed

http://haledavid1.gaia.com — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 13:12:17 GMT

Yes, yes, and Yes. I've seen and felt and thought this - yet haven't really pinned it down until you posted it Joel. Thanks.

A Diverse Approach to Diversity Training is Needed

http://joelabrown.gaia.com — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 23:06:14 GMT

September of 2006 will long be remembered as a watershed event. In rather climatic form, the American population reached and surpassed the 300 million mark. Implicit in this event is the recognition that not only do we have more people living in the United States than at any other time in the country's history, but we also have a more heterogenuous population than at any other time in the country's history. Logic would suggest that diversity and mutliformity have been the logical and necessary outcomes of this heterogeneity.

As society expanded, the question was whether we as human beings would coalesce in some discernible form, or regress to a fragmented society highligted by barrios, ghettos, suburbs, and reservations. Multiculturalism surfaced as our cultural “saving grace.” But despite its utopian ideals, diversity theory was just as much a study in sheer pragmatism as much as it was a product of intellectual enlightenment. In other words, “if we have to spend 40 hours a week working with different people, we might as well tolerate them.”

Nonetheless, with the advent of the 21st century, there appears to be a grander and more bold sensibility: inclusion. The 300 million milestone was important not only for numerical and statistical reasons, but philospical reasons as well: Social leaders are demanding that the American dream finally encompass a more global reality.

The truth, however, is that we have always lived in a pluralistic society, albeit to a lesser degree than today. Yet, what has changed from the time of this country's inception to the present day is not the manifestation of heterogeneity, but the awareness and recoginition of its importance in the social fabric. While diversity is thought to be good for distinguishing the individual from the masses, it is the celebratory aspect that gave diversity and diversity theory their modern impetus. In layman's' terms, it finally became “cool to be different.” Having long abandoned the “melting pot” theory, we became a nation of different textures and flavors (the salad bowl). We learned to celebrate our commonality, but we also celebrated the fact that our commonality could be expessed in so many different ways. In truth, heterogeneity and the celebration thereof forged the essence of the diversity movement.

The question for diversity consultants is whether our didactic principals have incorporated new demographic trends. Concepts around “diversity” were born out of a more traditional demographic model. Largely a product of the social upheaval of the sixties and seventies, traditional diversity paradigms focused almost exclusively on relations between African Americans and the larger, more white majority. The focus between those two main groups was certainly needed; and as African Americans found their “voice” within the socio-political context, most diversity programs were designed to lend credence to the African American experience, and to illuminate the interplay between African Americans (and more generally people of color) and society at-large. However, as the US population has expanded and transformed, traditional models around diversity training have failed to accomodate new emerging demographic trends. Most companies, and unfortunately, most diversity experts, have failed to broaden their perspective beyond the old “black-white” paradigm. The result has been a “Diversity Gap” between the desginated or preferred diversity groups or subjects, and new groups whose diversity needs are just as critical, but whose voice is not as powerful or as popular as their multi-cultural counterparts. In essence, the “old paradigm” doesn't even acknowledge that certain groups have a “place at the table.” In the end, it creates and reinforces the very result that it was trying to avoid: cultural marginalization, alienation and exclusivity.

The “Diversity Gap” speaks to the mammoth unsophistication and glaring simplicity of the “old paradigm” in accounting for differences, not only between a myriad of emerging groups, but also the differences that will undobutedly surface within culturual groups. The “Diversity Gap” may be born of the diversity trainer's own biases and ill-conceived perceptions. Alternatively, it may be a product of society's general naivete or ignorance towards a particular group. Yet, despite its origin, the results can be disastrous for any organization that wants to position itself as “an employer of choice.” An employer which relies on the “old” diversity model and ignores the new diversity paradigm runs the risk of becoming outdated, misinformed, and irrelevant to the 300 million populace. The 300 million demographic sees diversity not only as a measure to achieve personal preservation, but as a value that is necessary to sustain our economy, maintain our national security, and bolster our status as a leader in the international community. In short, the new demographic sees diversity as inherent to our growth as a thriving nation.

As the US is a member of the global society, diversity consultants must “bridge” the “diversity gap” to make sure that no group is left behind. Said more poetically, diversity consultants must theoretically dedicate themselves to building a society that truly benefits everyone. The new paradigm is multi-faceted, dynamic, and fluid. By introducing the “New Diversity Paradigm,” I hope to achieve several objectives: 1) Re-focus academic discussions to incorporate evolving concepts regarding “diversity” and “multi-culturalism.”
2) Re-educate employers about emerging demographic trends and empower them to create more innovative, avant-garde diversity initiatives. 3) Re-tool diversity trainers to become more “even-handed” “change agents” for diversity. My goal is to help diversity consultants become effective advocates for under-represented groups, as well as more traditional diversity constituents.

(Reposted from Joel's blog)

Re: Racism ingrained and alive and well

http://haledavid1.gaia.com — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 20:36:18 GMT

Thanks so much for the post --- Too much emotion at present for me (makes it hard to see the keys...)

LOL AND I MEAN LOL at "Assholitis is colour blind… so is illumination." I can use that phrase!

All of of our various assorted individual stories are needed now I think. 1st - to tell each other "yes this is still happening and it's happening (has happened recently) to people we know! and 2nd to tell the children we interact with --- "no matter what happens, please KNOW, we are the same --- we are one and the same! And you are not alone!!!!"
Blessings to you, David

Re: What about Condoleeza Rice?

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:32:14 GMT

We face the same issue here in Switzerland with women: can you be a women and disagree with a recently elected women, knowing that's it 's an important step to be from a minority group and to be accepted in a men's group!

The gender or race group enters in conflict with the consciousness level group (Or Meme).

Condi cumulates beeing a women (no president have been a women yet) and beeing black!

People have to fight withint hemselves: "do I support the ideas or the colour?"

If you support the colour...you loose the voices of most of the dominant group

If you support the ideas...you loose the voices of most of the submitted (colour) group.

Whatever you chooses you loose... And this texts just shows the ambivalence of the author.

Re: Racism ingrained and alive and well

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 22:02:32 GMT

Hi to all...

I joined this pod because of Heyok's blog.

How do I feel about this issue?

There are certain issues which you think nobody needs to talk about, 'cause everything has been said about it.. but still...it's stil going on....

As I was 18 y.o. I came to live in the US for two years. I rented a flat in L.A. and my first friends were my direct neighbours: two black guys. One of the same age and another of 60 y.o. I invited them to my place, innocently, we ate together.. they invited me to their flats..we listened to music...talked... nothing special. After 3 months I got friend with a white guy... we had fun.. I invited him to my place..he invited me... it was nice. We were all living in the same building.

After six months some white people in the building started to tell me...not directly... but in a disguised manner, that people around were looking at me in a bizarre way, 'cause I was friends with black people in the building.

This was a shock to me. I was discovering America! I was discovering the hidden rules of a country, neighbourood, building! Anyway.. I did not change my way. You know what happened? White people used to come to my flat with black people... but they all (black and white) came in as if it had to be a secret. We had marvellous evenings.

And suddenly, I became colour consciouss! I noticed there were no mixed race couple in the streets! A second shock!

I'm from Switzerand, and racism is well alive here. But mixed colour couples is an accepted fact.

This is to much for my head!

Assholitis is colour blind... so is illumination.

And I have to state here again my "credo": it has nothing to do with colours, gender, creeds: it is a conscioussness level thing.

After my experience in the US, I went to London for a year. I was a musician at the time. I auditioned for a lot of bands, but I fell in love with an African band. They were from Ghana and Nigeria. It was a good band and I was the only white! They gave me an African name: "Kofi", due to my day's birth. And we played and played and played...I spent days with them, trying to figure out their cultural rules.
They were all calling each other "brother", except me. And I didn't know why! I prayed with them, I ate their food (turkey tales...), They hooked me up with a black girl... but still... I was not a brother.

One day, I was so angry at them, 'cause they were all late at the rehearsal. Not late as in ten minutes, but late as in an our and a half (African time is different). So I calculated and said to myself "OK.. I'm going to show up later than all of them: two hours late! The'y ll understand that I'm angry".

So I did! They were all there! I showed up, full of anger, ready to make a scene.

To my surprise, they all greeted me with a hearfelt "OOH...Kofi...my brother". I was In!

All my anger went away.. Since then I was " a brother". It's funny when you go somewhere and when a black guy introduces you to someone and says "and here's my brother".

Maybe they greeted me in to diffuse my anger... maybe because I was able to set my watch at African time... I don't care.
Although my life took a different turn, I still have an African family, somewhere in London.

My African family still lives in me through my love for African music (I'm a fan).

But I'm not into idealization either...and I'm a staunch critisizer of black amerian culture as it behaves at the moment.

As for music... check out the marvellous Roberta Flack, and the recent and wonderfull poetess Ursula Rucker.

Patrick

Re: Racism ingrained and alive and well

http://grendels-song.gaia.com — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 17:00:10 GMT

Hello to everyone here. I joined this pod yesterday, and I would like to share a blog post with you here as well, related to HeyOk's entries yesterday. I won't say more, but I hope you will visit my blog to hear my thoughts. I am hoping that you will see the positive in the unfortunate story I tell, there.

I'm really glad to be here, and looking forward to getting to know you.

bows,
crow

Racism ingrained and alive and well

http://haledavid1.gaia.com — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 15:09:02 GMT

Please forgive my directing you back to my blog and then back to here.
Kiri Davis has repeated a study some years ago asking young black children whether they prefer a white doll or a black doll and why. Seems too little has changed at least for my taste. I can't say I'm surprised - I hope someone is... cause every person that's suprised means one step closer to changing this. The Blog Entry.

Genomes, Race, and Ethnicity

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 00:34:28 GMT

Hi Stu and All,

I've been involved in too many things, so it's been a while (miss you Stu!). Not that I have a bunch of free time now, but I did want to stop by to drop this in your laps:

Changing the paradigm from 'race' to human genome variation

It's a little heady, but well worth the pondering. For a while now, I've been tossing around the idea that "racism" is an outdated term, too ambiguous to describe its current state. It looks more like ethnicism than racism to me. While it may seem like splitting hairs, it does make a huge difference when we begin to speak of multiculturalism and diversity. This article begins to address this very thing via genetics.

~Jo

Re: Arizona, leading the way to regression

http://haledavid1.gaia.com — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 11:43:07 GMT

Hey Stu I missed when you posted (Thankfully EBuzz responded and led me back - zmiles).
So much here on zaadz like the world it's easy to feel lost even when I'm not.

So easy to feel frustrated. I know you know the trick though (or at least one of them). Feel it and then act the best way you know how.

Re: Arizona, leading the way to regression

http://redwoodjedi.gaia.com — Sun, 14 Jan 2007 17:44:19 GMT

Holy Schnikeys!! English the only recognized language?! ehhh. Health care sucks everywhere. Maybe when all of the pharmaceutical industry finally gets it, socialized medicine will at last prevail. A pipe dream for now. No helping "illegal" immigrants? Hmmmm. The Southwest was theirs' first. Manifest Destiny is such a messy and narcissistic principle. Hang in there Stuey. Arizona needs you. Don't put your light in the cupboard yet. Somebody sees it. I know I do from all the way up here in Humboldt County. We're a bit cloudy, but still plenty of light. Maybe I'll send some down to ya'!

Bless and Be Blessed,

Erik

Re: What about Condoleeza Rice?

http://haledavid1.gaia.com — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 13:10:52 GMT

Yep, yep, and yep.

Arizona, leading the way to regression

http://StuartPeterson.gaia.com — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 19:05:55 GMT

!!!! aaaaauuuggghhhh !!!!

This is the closest (and shortest) resemblance to what this spirit desired to scream in the street in the wake of elections in my current state of abode. Of course, a neighbor would have phoned the authorities regarding a savage lunatic rending his clothes, public endangerment, etc. and this posting would not have occurred.

English as the only official language, denial of health care and other benefits, severe penalties for persons aiding illegal immigrants...another scream may be coming...

It has taken some time just to calm down internally enough to rationally post and discuss this. Of course one solution would be to leave for a more progressive state...but running away never solved anything.

This spirit was able to finish and present a 45 minute presentation as part of a workplace class on integration and diversity that was well received and is to be presented again to the entire facility management team at a later date. The struggle goes on in one small town, and to be sure, other places as well in spite of the blow.

A tide of melancholy approaches, so off for now...

anyone else out there?

Love and Light

Re: What about Condoleeza Rice?

http://StuartPeterson.gaia.com — Sat, 30 Dec 2006 18:49:51 GMT

hmmm....not sure how she would respond, but his spirit would thank him for being open, honest, human, and very spiritual.

Isn't this akin to a tale out of a religious manual brought up to modern times? How many times must the play be recast before "we" accept and transmute to the next level?

Love and Light

Re: White Guilt

http://StuartPeterson.gaia.com — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 02:55:46 GMT

Some of our greatest challenges are unlearning all of the programing we acumulate in our youth and adult lives...and get back to the simple stuff we knew during our infancy. Amazing how complicated we can make life.

Modern society tries to entrap its citizens in patterns of thinking, and the tools for doing so become ever more devious and complex. Breaking out of the box, shattering the chain, and so many more euphinisms for getting back to the basic truths of life. This may mean becoming uncomfortable, changing our thoughts, even the fabric of our lives.

The choices facing us are simple, as simple as nature can make it. Relate with and support each other, or, perish as a species.

Love and Light