"Diversity" and the multinorm

My friend Jade writes expressively and poignantly about, well everything.  She posted about diversity in campus ministry and got me thinking.

Jade cuts right to the point with this statement:

Seeking to increase structural diversity (i.e. the people who are participants in the campus ministry) without seeking to increase multicultural competence to honor them once they GET there will always betray a lack of forethought & process.

One of the things that inhibits the development of true diversity and meaningful connections is the retention of a singular "normal" culture.  This is a regard for different cultures that does not recognize the existence of multiple normals.  To me this is particularly apparent in the part of west Michigan where the white, middle class Dutch culture tends to be acknowledged as normal.  I imagine this to be true of most homogenous communities.  Other is often regarded as a curiosity and as a shift from the expected normal.  It takes more than curiosity to promote diversity.

The view of another culture as a curiosity does not allow it to be engaged meaningfully, especially if it is relegated to an object of entertainment.  Culture can become an object to be used and discarded at will or impulse, a fun theme.

Unfortunately it can be exhausting to put time into properly understanding and appreciating different cultures.  Culture is how we self-identify, so it takes empathy to do diverse communities properly.  Organizations need to be able to value and support multiple identities.  It starts with people.  It takes the willingness to walk miles and miles and miles in the shoes of other people.  Different people.  People that you might find difficult to identify with.  Cultural fluency is like language fluency in that it takes time and in most cases, immersion.

In my experience, true, beautiful diversity was not coaxed, grown and cultivated by a group of White people, or by a group of Black people or any other homogenous group.  It was supported by, and happened because of heterogeneous community.  See the community toolbox for tips!  Start by accepting anyone that wants to join your group.

Unless we can commit to the development of multiple normals, then we cannot really talk about diversity.  There would be no point.