On Seeing Change...

Sometimes, when we hear news about something some bigot did or said in our respective communities and workplaces, it’s easy to get discouraged and think, “Wow! It’s the 21st Century and people are just as ignorant and prejudiced as they were decades if not centuries ago!” But trust me, things really are changing. We just have to know where to look and we have to keep each other informed about the changes that are happening around us.
Unfortunately, we live in an era in which the bigots get more media attention than the champions of inclusion. When is the last time your favorite national or local news source reported information about people taking positive action to make our world a more inclusive place? We rarely see these kinds of stories because hate stories sell and many media companies simply don’t have a clue as to how to package stories about inclusion, unless they’re reporting about someone’s kindness during the Christmas or Thanksgiving holidays.
For example, how as the media covered the national impact of all of the diverse cultural celebrations that have occurred at the White House, since the Obama family took up residency there? Yes, we’ve all seen the media demand to know the names of persons on the “secret” list of people who’ve been invited to the White House but I’ve yet to see any in-depth reporting on how much more diverse the White House invitees have become since January 21, 2009.
Think about the fact that in less than a year, entire population segments that were previously excluded from anything and everything that happened at the White House have received a warm welcome by President and Mrs. Obama. In addition to the various cultural celebrations the Obamas have observed such as Ramadan, Seder, St. Patrick’s Day, Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, the Obamas have also celebrated Martin Luther King Day with a volunteer initiative, gay families were deliberately invited to join the Annual Easter Egg Roll and recently the White House doors were open to 2,000 children from military families for a Halloween celebration that they’ll remember for the rest of their lives. Wait there’s more – because we’ve also seen those big old doors open for the first time to kids from the local neighborhood, young girls and their celebrated role models during Women’s History Week, a diverse group of young Hip-Hop poets, local residents who help care for Mrs. Obama’s garden on the White House lawn and the Girl Scouts. The Obama’s also purchased super-duper play equipment for their own daughters and the children of White House staff. I’m probably leaving many things off the list. Nevertheless, my point is – these are not the gestures of people wanting to look like they value diversity. Instead, these are the deliberate actions of people who value diversity, inclusive relationships and environments, and choose to serve as role models for others to do the same.
And if you think the Obama’s inclusive actions are not having a positive impact on many of your friends and neighbors, check out a couple of the comments I recently saw on the Huffington Post, in response to last week’s Halloween celebration:


• Great to see kids at the White House. It’s our house. And it’s a very very fine house. Makes me feel good and also thankful to see it occupied by some very smart and caring people trying to do their best for a country in pretty tough shape. With all the tough issues to worry about and discuss, sometimes I have to just sit back and be happy and feel grateful for the new residents of our house.

• Our First Parents look at children with such awe and delight. They have made the White House open again, and full of positive, healthy things, honoring so many traditions.


While many of us might be inclined to assume the sentiments shared are from persons who were non-white and/or young, and therefore more sensitive to issues of diversity and inclusion. They were not. The first was posted by an elderly white southern gentleman, and the second was shared by an older white woman living in the Midwest. Isn’t it great to have our own stereotypical thinking interrupted in such an enlightening manner?

In future posts, I’ll be revisiting the notion of seeing the inclusive changes happening around us and I invite you and your associates to share information about changes you’ve seen and/or experienced. Take a look around and I’m sure you’ll see something enlightening! In the meantime, the next time you hear someone bemoan the fact that nothing is changing, interrupt their cynical attitude and challenge them with some of the changes on your list.

Inclusively yours,
Di Versity