- Home
- Editorial and Opinion
- Deric's Debate: Redefining Diversity (Part I)
Deric's Debate: Redefining Diversity (Part I)
- By Deric Muhammad
- Published 05/18/2009
- Editorial and Opinion
- Unrated
Deric Muhammad
Deric Muhammad is a Houston-based community activist who blogs at http://www.askbroderic.blogspot.com.
The word “diversity” is one of the most prostituted terms in the English language. It is a term that is used in political, social, business and countless other arenas that suggest equality, justice and a leveled playing field. It has been touted as the answer to racism, sexism, classism and religious discrimination. But there is a difference between diversity and the “appearance of diversity.”
The traditional indication of diversity is seen in the skin color of the individuals in a particular group. We may not wish to admit it, but it’s true. If a city’s council is made up of different racial and/or ethnic groups it is usually considered diverse. When this make-up also includes men and women with different religious views and sexual preference then it is considered “very diverse.” Herein lies a problem.
It is human nature for a person to be concerned about self. You must live a life of service to others, however if you don’t take care of yourself you can’t help anyone else. This is why the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught “Self first: and then others.” It is no coincidence that if someone shows you a group photo with you in it, the first person you look for is yourself.
Well the same thing happens when you look at a board of directors, city council, a state legislative body, Congressional House or even a sports team.
For so long we only saw Whites holding positions of power over us, so we went to work to elect politicians who looked like us. We supported captains of industry who looked like us and made sure that we saw ourselves in every arena of American life.
But the smart, crooked, deceiver learned to manipulate our natural desire to see ourselves (meaning Black faces) in positions of influence. What I’m saying is there is a difference between “position and power.” The enemy realized that it was okay for Black persons to be in positions as long as they remained in power.
And so our enemies began to recruit highly-qualified Black men and women who would represent their interests and agendas. They financed their campaigns and sent them among us to get the Black vote while all the while they represented the White agenda. During slavery they were called, “house Negroes.” And today we still call them “house Negroes.”
As a people we must now began to redefine the term diversity. If a group of individuals in leadership have difference in skin color, yet they all think just alike then you DO NOT HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP of people. What you have is a box of crayons being used to color the same old picture.
We, as a people, must become socially and politically mature and wise to the game. Diversity must now be defined from the inside out and not the outside in. The latter has not worked for us.
The proof is in the fact that we have more Black elected officials, Captains of industry and millionaires than ever before, but we as a people are in a worse condition than ever before.
Diversity must be determined by ideas and the execution thereof. Diversity must be determined by the representation of diverse agendas.
Question: Have we been “hoodwinked” by the appearance of diversity? Is it time to redefine what diversity means to us as a people? If so what should the new definition look like?
We would like to hear your opinions and, with permission, consider posting them in a coming edition of this great newspaper. Please email your responses to askbrotherderic@yahoo.com.
Deric Muhammad is a Houston-based community activist who blogs at askbroderic.blogspot.com
The traditional indication of diversity is seen in the skin color of the individuals in a particular group. We may not wish to admit it, but it’s true. If a city’s council is made up of different racial and/or ethnic groups it is usually considered diverse. When this make-up also includes men and women with different religious views and sexual preference then it is considered “very diverse.” Herein lies a problem.
It is human nature for a person to be concerned about self. You must live a life of service to others, however if you don’t take care of yourself you can’t help anyone else. This is why the Honorable Elijah Muhammad taught “Self first: and then others.” It is no coincidence that if someone shows you a group photo with you in it, the first person you look for is yourself.
Well the same thing happens when you look at a board of directors, city council, a state legislative body, Congressional House or even a sports team.
For so long we only saw Whites holding positions of power over us, so we went to work to elect politicians who looked like us. We supported captains of industry who looked like us and made sure that we saw ourselves in every arena of American life.
But the smart, crooked, deceiver learned to manipulate our natural desire to see ourselves (meaning Black faces) in positions of influence. What I’m saying is there is a difference between “position and power.” The enemy realized that it was okay for Black persons to be in positions as long as they remained in power.
And so our enemies began to recruit highly-qualified Black men and women who would represent their interests and agendas. They financed their campaigns and sent them among us to get the Black vote while all the while they represented the White agenda. During slavery they were called, “house Negroes.” And today we still call them “house Negroes.”
As a people we must now began to redefine the term diversity. If a group of individuals in leadership have difference in skin color, yet they all think just alike then you DO NOT HAVE A DIVERSE GROUP of people. What you have is a box of crayons being used to color the same old picture.
We, as a people, must become socially and politically mature and wise to the game. Diversity must now be defined from the inside out and not the outside in. The latter has not worked for us.
The proof is in the fact that we have more Black elected officials, Captains of industry and millionaires than ever before, but we as a people are in a worse condition than ever before.
Diversity must be determined by ideas and the execution thereof. Diversity must be determined by the representation of diverse agendas.
Question: Have we been “hoodwinked” by the appearance of diversity? Is it time to redefine what diversity means to us as a people? If so what should the new definition look like?
We would like to hear your opinions and, with permission, consider posting them in a coming edition of this great newspaper. Please email your responses to askbrotherderic@yahoo.com.
Deric Muhammad is a Houston-based community activist who blogs at askbroderic.blogspot.com