As we uncover layers of diversity and as the world marches towards a more humane sensibility where we are asked to treat the other with equity and respect, those of us who discriminate while see seek equality, should know that our behaviour also come under the equality and diversity scrutiny.
Ethnicity refers to the location within a larger location that binds people who share a particular way of life, customs, vernacular and values. For example, in Ethiopia there are the Amharas, the Eritreans and other tribal groupings. The Amharas are thought to be the privileged ones in Ethiopian, they are larger in numbers and Amharic is the dominant language and culture. We can find similar groupings in Nigeria, Ghana, India, The Philippines and in North America. Like Anglo-Saxton males and females followed by white-skinned people in general who enjoy unearned privileges because of their white skin, some ethnic groups enjoy unearned privileges within their national/cultural groups because they belong to a particular ethnic groups which privileges them. These groups dominate others and take privileges for granted. They are also the presidents of cultural organizations, they hire their own kinds, they get the plum opportunities etc. This could be discrimination.
Canadians, Americans and North Americans in general are made up of diverse groups of people living side by side in relative peace and harmony but there is the underlying distinctions that are known often only to those who come from the same nationality. The general public may not see this diversity among people of the same nationality and same race in their cultural group formations but it is there and people who inhabit that sphere are aware of it.
Each of these groups carry within them certain stereotypes of the other groups and sometimes these stereotypes are used to separate one from the other. In group settings such as schools, workplaces, Churches, etc. people usually cluster in their own ethnic groups – this is sometimes because of language issues but most times it is because of the comfort level or because of a sense of obligation to stick by one’s own “people”.
Diversity is great but it is greater when each cluster of people can reflect the range of diversity, not only does it becomes a more beautiful picture, it becomes a learning lab of cross cultural communication and ethnic appreciation. These clusters make us grow, help us become better and more complete human being. Evolution favours diversity more than any other trait. For human to progress and strive, be physically and mentally stronger we need to fully embrace a diverse way of life.
Ten way to improve your
1. Push yourself out of your comfort zones
2. Challenge your assumptions about the other group
3. Engage in discussions about racial and ethnic differences
4. Seek to understand the other not judge
5. Read books by people of other cultures and ethnic groups
6. Challenge stereotypes in the media, write a letter to the editor giving an alternative opinion
7. Be an ally to the underdog – defend when the person may be too timid to do so
8. Learn to recognize stereotypes and never take them at face value, dig to find the truth
9. Learn to see others as normal not different. When we see difference as different we run the risk of being prejudice towards those people who we see as “not normal”
Look within your organizations be they political, social, cultural or other for invisible discrimination, discrimination that are embedded within systems are the most difficult to eradicate but you can become sleuth to identify and expose racist, ethnic or other forms of discrimination because it is the right thing to do. Find out who gets the plum and why.
