How might I make my life a more committed celebration of diversity?

My life has been enriched by living in a diverse community in the U.S. and by being exposed to many global cultures, at least in small ways. When I was little, my family also lived for a while among the indigenous peoples of Oaxaca. In those days the Mexicans looked down at the indigenous very negatively, as being dirty, ignorant, unreligious, etc. I treasure the memory of my mother telling me to never think of them as unclean, she said “they may have floors of dirt, but they sweep them twice a day.” And it was true. It was the beginning of my understanding to respect all people, regardless of their poverty, health, or education, and that their lives are just as rich and they have knowledge just as valuable as my college education. I have a few treasures in my home to remind me of that place and time, baskets and wool blankets woven of Churro wool and died with local dyes.

Seeking diversity can be done in more than one way, but in my opinion, the only way that counts with people is one that is equal.

My community today normally includes four multi-church non-denominational services throughout the year. The churches have also been trying to bring our community together by getting folk to sometimes go to other church services. What they have found is the blacks in our community will sometimes visit the white churches, but that the whites won’t walk into a black church for services, and this from open-minded people. We just don’t think. We still often hold that unconscious belief that everyone would rather be like us, and… they don’t. I’m not a church-goer, but I have been considering doing this once Covid is passed.

The point I’m trying to make is that celebrating diversity isn’t always about bringing it in to wherever we are, but instead about bring us into whatever home, church, workplace or organization that is unfamiliar to us. Why, as a white person, can’t I be willing to be a minority in a room?

The answer is, I can. And so can everyone, be willing to be a minority, and in this way celebrate diversity.