Diversity has been and is at the forefront of our consciousness, our lives, and our work. We continue to learn every day. Living in a time when issues around diversity are finally being heard is encouraging. Still, it is painful that discrimination has not been discussed at this level of urgency for over fifty years. We can now see how deeply these issues have been suppressed, how fearful people still are around diversity, and how that fear has grown into hatred. Even though race is not an issue for individuals in every corner of the world because racial differences do not exist, issues of sexuality, gender, age, religion, and a host of other areas that can divide us are present. We all have something to learn from diversity. It is a journey that takes us into looking at ourselves, our families, our culture, and our faith.
As mediators, we need to know our issues if we ever hope to bring peace between parties. Ignorance of our issues is not an excuse. If we are to be peacemakers, we need to know ourselves and the baggage we bring if we ever hope to be effective.
If you are on the journey to learn, consider some of the linked resources provided at the end of this blog. There is no shame in saying we need to learn, only in saying we know everything.
White Racial Identity Development
Teaching Tolerance an anti-bias framework