Diversity - American History

In past diversity blogs, I have summarized several points of view about the modern diversity movement. I have shown how the word “diversity” in a Supreme Court decision issued on June 28, 1978 spawned a vast movement. I have questioned the doctrine that “diversity” is somehow good for American businesses. I have talked about the Individual Differences Perspective of diversity and its lack of boundaries. I have said less about the Social Justice perspective but I will beginning in this post. I have suggested that there is a certain degree of triteness and some unhealthy stereotyping in the individual Differences Perspective.

This post begins to examine history s a guide to diversity.

The Social Justice Perspective often has within it a critique of American society and history.

Here are quotes from books on diversity:
 “This book is about the struggle against oppression in organizations and the promise of diversity....Our institutions have failed to eliminate harassment and ongoing discrimination against women of color, men of color, white women, gays, lesbians, people with disabilities, older workers, younger workers, and others who are systematically excluded….We continue to feel the effects of a legacy of oppression: slavery, genocide, indentured servitude, …..(T)he oppressed cry out for immediate action.” Source: Ellie Y. Cross, Judith H. Katz, Frederick A. Miller and Edith W. Seashore, eds. The Promise of Diversity (New York: Irwinn 1994), p. xxi

 One book is dedicated (besides to various family members) to “all the women and men who are pioneers, champions and allies in organizations, in appreciation of your commitment to creating workplaces that are liberating for your generation and those that follow.” Source: Frederick A. Miller and Judith H. Katz The Inclusion Breakthrough: Unleashing the Real Power of Diversity (San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc., 2002)

 One book claims that the “ Eurocentric” version of the American dream includes such points of views as, “War is the ultimate competition”, the “Ultimate goal: To be Number One.” “Those who accumulate the most of what costs the most are the winners…” (Norma Carr-Ruffino Managing Diversity: People Skills for a Multicultural Workplace (USA: Thompson Executive Press, 1994), p. ix, 243)

In my view, these pronouncements profoundly misread the American experience. I will try to show that to be the case in subsequent posts.

The way that I will do that is to refer to the work of distinguished historians. Then I will point out some of the egregious social conditions existing in other modern cultures. Then I will examine the American constitutional set up and what it accomplished. The point of the next several posts is that the American experience embodies Real Diversity and has much to teach the world.