Wednesday Word: Committing to Change

A message from Dr. Michael Ward, Ph.D., RTR, FASRT, FMoSRT

Vice Dean for Student Affairs & Diversity

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Combining Our Talents for a Better Future:  Talking about Race – Commit Yourself to Change

In today’s times the very subject of race stirs up emotions of apprehension, anger, fear, shame, guilt and uncertainty.  Racism, is defined as a system of advantage and oppression based on race.  A way of organizing society based on dominance and subordination based on race.  Penetrates every aspect of personal, cultural, and institutional life.  Includes prejudice against people of color, as well as exclusion, discrimination against, suspicion of, and fear/hate of people of color.  Racism = Prejudice + the power of implement that prejudice.  Diversity, Equity & Inclusion – Combining Our Talents for a Better Future:  Talking about Race – Commit Yourself to Change

In today’s times the very subject of race stirs up emotions of apprehension, anger, fear, shame, guilt and uncertainty.  Racism, is defined as a system of advantage and oppression based on race.  A way of organizing society based on dominance and subordination based on race.  Penetrates every aspect of personal, cultural, and institutional life.  Includes prejudice against people of color, as well as exclusion, discrimination against, suspicion of, and fear/hate of people of color.  Racism = Prejudice + the power of implement that prejudice. 

Taking direct aim at educational disparities and patterns of systemic disadvantage, especially those resulting from historical and contemporary effects of racism, and making equity a pervading focus of educational reform and innovation (according to L. Pasquerella president of the Association of American Colleges and Universities) requires moving beyond the goals of access and compositional diversity to design and deliver experiences that support the success of all students. 

We can become more comfortable about talking about difference by practicing doing so in safe and comfortable spaces and places.  Most of us don’t know how to talk about difference, specifically race, in a constructive manner, but we can learn.  We can be advocates for culture change, however, you can’t do it if you don’t walk the talk!! 

Finding safe spaces and places to discuss readings and videos, host guest speakers, spend time together is seminars that are organized and facilitated by experts helps us to learn the skills of listening to understand.  These conversations and experiences will aid us to grow together as a community and inform how we approach our work and each other.

There is an outstanding reference titled “The 10 R’s of Talking About Race:  How to Have Meaningful Conversations” that I’ve listed the link below.  Take a few minutes to read the document:   https://www.netimpact.org/blog/talking-about-race?action