Diversity is "otherness," or those human qualities that are different from our own and outside the groups to which we belong, yet are present in other individuals and groups.It is important to distinguish between the primary and secondary dimensions of diversity. Primary dimensions are the following: age, ethnicity, gender, physical abilities/qualities, race and sexual orientation. Secondary dimensions of diversity are those that can be changed, and include, but are not limited to: educational background, geographic location, income, marital status, military experience, parental status, religious beliefs, and work experiences.Diversity in the United States can be a great benefit to ...view middle of the document...
There as we were watching our all white, perfectly groomed girls in their uniforms filled with badges they had earned, run and play my husband turned to me and said "it is like we live in a twilight zone". I then asked him what he had meant my that. He said " In this town, outsiders don't really get in, and very few that live her get out. We are all protected by the elements of the real world by the boarder lines of this town. Our children grow up in all white communities, with very little crime, a church on every corner and a tight community to take care of each other." After really taking into consideration what my husband had said, It really disturbed me. My husband grew up traveling from state to state and now works as a paramedic in an all black community, 40 miles away. I attend a college also 40 miles away with a very diverse population of students. I have also had many classes on cultural diversity. He and I both know what is outside this box. Yet when we come home to this town at night, we know we are safe to keep our doors unlocked as we sleep and the keys in our cars. You are all "safe" here.Now, however, you are graduating from high school, several of you moving to the big universities in towns with so much diversity that I am sure you all will feel frightened. As you look around your college campuses and walk down the streets of these new exciting cities, you won't see all white smiling faces. You will see faces of African Americans, you will see Asian faces, and Native Americans, you will see homeless families, and you will see gays and lesbians holding hands. These are just a few of the things you will see. You won't see everybody saying hello, and smiling as you walk down the street. You won't find that everybody knows each other and that they are looking out for one another. You can no longer leave your doors unlocked, the keys in your cars, your purses on your chair in the restaurants when you go to wash your hands. You will no longer be protected and looked after by the members of your community. You have grown up in a wonderful, caring community. One that wants only to provide the best for our friends and family and to protect them. However, we have a community that likes to stay hidden away in a box. It is now time to l...
