Beyond Celebrating Diversity
Celebration is not a substitute for the work we all need to do.
Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about those “In Our America” signs, the ones with the American flag background that proclaim a message of solidarity, inclusivity, and reassurance on behalf of those of us who hold in our hearts the ideal of an America for all. In particular, I’ve been thinking about the concluding sentence: “Diversity is celebrated.” As a person who identifies as “diverse,” I appreciate the gesture of goodwill, the declaration that I too belong in our America, and that my “diversity is celebrated.” However, I also feel that the statement “diversity is celebrated” is problematic. It may sometimes be a barrier to the more difficult and meaningful effort needed to actualize a more just, equitable, and inclusive America. A gesture of celebration is not a substitute for the hard work we all need to do.
I’ve been wondering how the statement “diversity is celebrated” may be similar to the statement “I don’t see color.” Color-blindness was an assertion that “color doesn’t matter” to the person claiming to be color-blind. While I assume people were well intentioned in proclaiming color-blindness, perhaps reflecting a belief that they did not have negative views about individuals based on skin color, this attitude often functioned to prevent rather than invite empathy for people of color. When color was not acknowledged, the suffering experienced by people of color remained unacknowledged as well. Compassion means “to suffer with,” and color-blindness prevented people from “suffering with” people of color. It prevented true compassion, as well as meaningful anti-racist engagement and activism. We don’t talk about being color-blind much anymore because we’ve come to recognize that while an individual can feel he is color-blind, implicit bias and systemic racism still remain, unchallenged and unchanged. “I don’t see color” tended to center the comfort of the color-blind person at the expense of the person of color’s comfort. Color-blindness did not do much to actually help the people it claimed to help. It mostly helped color-blind people feel good about themselves.
I feel that “diversity is celebrated” is similar to “I don’t see color” because both statements center the experience of the person making the statement instead of the lived experience and suffering of the person who is “diverse.” It’s quite easy for us to feel good about ourselves for celebrating diversity, and with our anxiety relieved, our values clarified, and uncomfortable conversations avoided, it may feel like nothing more is required of us. We’re the good guys, we celebrate diversity, and we all feel better now! “Diversity is celebrated” is a gesture of goodwill towards diverse people, but it’s a gesture that often benefits the celebrator more than the celebrated. Like color-blindness, it may prevent compassion and deeper inquiry into the “diverse” person’s experience. It can be like the statement “thoughts and prayers” that we sometimes use in response to gun violence. “Thoughts and prayers” is meant as expression of sympathy and goodwill, but sympathy and goodwill alone does not actually solve any problems related to gun violence. “Diversity is celebrated” is not enough. Comforting slogans are not enough. We can do more.
In order to go beyond celebrating diversity, we need to look deeper into our assumptions, intentions, and the impact of our actions. In what ways are we actually celebrating diversity? What do these celebrations look like? Who benefits from these celebrations? What assumptions are we making about the needs and wishes of “diverse” peoples? Have we respectfully asked the “diverse” people in our life what they actually want and need from us? If not, why not?
If you are curious about what you can do to go beyond celebrating diversity, there are many “diverse” peoples speaking and writing about their and their communities’ experiences, needs, and what they think compassionate allies can do to be helpful. We can listen and learn. We can follow their leadership. We can challenge ourselves to suffer with them. We can amplify their voices and pay them for their work. We can follow their leadership. We can take reponsibility for going beyond the comfort zone of privilege to create actual change towards equity and justice where we work, play, and live. If you celebrate diversity, I thank you for your goodwill. Now let’s get to work.
