In the traditions of Six Contradictions of Marxism, I present Seven Contradictions of Diversity, because Marxism was invented by dead white men, and what’s so special about the number “six”? Herewith:
Seven Contradictions of Diversity
* Your college has an Office of Diversity — yet it isn’t diverse enough
* It isn’t diverse enough — yet it celebrates diversity constantly
* It celebrates diversity constantly — yet faculty of color are oppressed
* Faculty of color are oppressed — yet they are constantly invited to speak their mind
* They are constantly invited to speak their mind — yet they are marginalized and ignored
* They are marginalized and ignored — yet many are hired as faculty and promoted to important administrative positions to develop “diversity weeks”, “diversity courses”, and “faculty diversity committees” in order to promote people of color.
* They attain unprecedented political clout focused on a single issue — yet they’re still “speaking truth to power”
March 25th, 2009 10:41 am
The very title of “faculty of color” segregates the faculty. How will we ever become a cohesive communal unit if we insist on being diverse? Why do some continually need attention? Is it insecurity?
March 25th, 2009 1:34 pm
Dr. Shack, this has actually been an issue that I have been wrestling with recently. I would love to hear more about what you think about this.
JM
March 25th, 2009 1:47 pm
Hmmm.. you could click the tab at the top, “The Left At Christian Universities”.
Or click the word “diversity” in the categories/tags area at the right.
And I have some other thoughts, that will wind up here as time goes on. Or we can go somewhere and have coffee and chew on it. Or all of the above.