Diversity Training: A debate
A few days ago I was watching one of the news channels and I came across something that struck me as a bit odd. Eugene, Oregon, home of the 2008 Olympic Trials, will be conducting diversity training for volunteers, hotels, restaurants, and shops to help them better prepare to deal with the influx of athletes, namely African-Americans that will be in town. Because the city is so homogenous, (there are a bunch of white people living there), they feel that they need to train themselves in order to be able to relate and deal with all the black folks. They want to make sure we feel equally at home. On the one hand, I commend them for wanting to be good hosts and to ensure that the experience is a positive one for everyone that attends. I certainly don’t believe they have harmful intentions, but it certainly made me do a double take.
It almost seems like a joke, except it’s not. In fact, I was going to post about this yesterday but being as it was April Fools Day, I held off. The idea that the organizing committee feels as if they have to be trained properly to deal with my friends and I is almost insulting. We aren’t aliens that require special handling. The athletes, friends, and family that will compromise the 65-75% of “other” folks that will descend upon the city for a couple of weeks, merely hope that the city does a good job of treating us all with dignity and respect. I’ve been to Eugene countless times before and I haven’t experienced anything negative. We aren’t visiting from a different country, we are visiting from neighboring states and I have never been aware that Eugene was a place where something like this would be addressed. This isn’t Jena, Louisiana.
So what kind of things will the “Blacks on Track Team”, or BOTT for short, be addressing? According to a few articles I’ve read, they will be better prepared to point them towards things they are more accustomed to. "We'll let them know where they can get their services be it good soul food, a hair cut, or religious services. And that they feel welcome." I’m sorry Eugenians; I highly doubt a city with 2% black population is the hot spot for soul food. Nor will any of my fellow athletes be looking to get their cornrows freshened up while they’re out there. We will be quite content eating at that great pizza place across the street from campus or visiting Olive Garden, etc. And as unfair as assumptions based on a persons skin color might be, a workshop or two is not really going to stop store clerks from following black people around in stores, another concern that is being addressed in training. But who knows, maybe there can be something gained from this. Supposedly residents from Eugene will also be taught that certain greetings appropriate between two black people may not be so appropriate between a black person and a white person. How annoying is it when white people try to give you a pound??? Ughh. And I would seriously be so offended if while I was out there someone had the audacity to say “wassup sista”. Could you imagine that happening?
So what I am wondering, dear blog readers, is if you think something like this is necessary. I think it’s quite obvious what my thoughts are but I am open and willing to try and understand why there is a need to teach people how to treat other PEOPLE right. Should I not feel insulted that the people in Oregon might not be able to figure out on their own how to interact with me if I am a guest at their hotel or a patron of their restaurant? On the one hand I acknowledge and appreciate their desire to be proactive and prepare themselves as best as possible to host a terrific event. Cultural diversity is something that should definitely be celebrated, but is behaving as if our differences require special training act more to separate us than bring us closer together?
If you'd like to vote in my super "official" poll, click here to vote on my personal blog.
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Yeah...
8:32 PM, April 2, 2008
.. Posted by UnrTrack
I heard about this a couple months ago. I'm not completely against diversity training... just not the way they're doing it. I guess as a teacher i have a different idea on what "diversity training" incorporates.... and where to get good soul food... is not it! I would see it as more dispelling misconceptions people may have that would make some of the people there maybe a little put off my the influx of diverse people... but thats just my take.
Untitled Comment
8:43 PM, April 2, 2008
.. Posted by Anonymous
I am a caucasian female - part Irish, part Dutch, part French, part Polish (a mutt, basically). My question is, what kind of diversity training would they need to handle me and make me feel 'at home'? I am appalled that this group (BOTT) exists. I am not sure if it made me feel better or worse to discover that an African American woman is promoting BOTT on video.
I am right on board with you Brianna. This is ODD. Welcome to the twilight zone.
Kali...
8:52 PM, April 2, 2008
.. Posted by missbri
I do see your point. And perhaps it's me thinking that we live in a better world than we actually do. In my mind however, if we are feeling the need to "teach" people how to treat other people, that's a problem. I think it points out that we are so different from each other and really we aren't. The people that are going to Eugene to run the steeple chase are the same as those going to run the 100 meters. All I need is for red, white, black, green people to treat me with respect and I'm good.
Untitled Comment
9:16 PM, April 2, 2008
.. Posted by UnrTrack
Yeah i like to believe we're better than that too, but in all honesty... we still have a ways to go. We're way better than we used to be, but still have a way to go. And thats part of the debate of diversity training/education is that it highlights differences. But in all honesty... different cultures ARE different. It would be a boring world if we were all the same. Fundamentally we are, but those nuances are different. Its more about appreciating the differences while STILL realizing we're basically the same... not to just focus on why we're all different... if that makes sense? Because part of the reasons some cultures can't come together is they think they are completely different, some basic education usually shows just the opposite. That can also lead to that respect issue you were talking about. And yeah it's sad to say that we do need to teach people how to treat each other... driving down the freeway has taught me that alone hahahaha.
And to anonymous above. I think both Bri and i (being "multi-ethnic ourselves) would agree there is no training or whatever for us. It's one of the things our country is going to have to adapt to is us multi-ethnic kiddies. But thats a whole nother subject hahaha
Edited by UnrTrack on April 2, 2008 at 11:18 PM
true...
9:23 PM, April 2, 2008
.. Posted by missbri
maybe we do have a ways to go. i guess i think they are going about it the wrong way or perhaps highlighting the wrong things then. because honestly, i don't want dap from the bellman.
i think that being the person i am...i grew up in orange county--ALL WHITE PEOPLE...i feel that i relate to whoever and i don't tend to treat or interact with anybody differently based on if they are black or white, just based on if they are ignorant or not. :)
hahaha...
9:36 PM, April 2, 2008
.. Posted by UnrTrack
I would look so cross eyed at a bellman if he tried that! When it comes to how you interact with people, i think THAT is the way it should be. Treat everyone with respect :)
Untitled Comment
10:38 PM, April 2, 2008
.. Posted by mike brown
When confused--just react with respect! It's that simple. I was surprised that the lady promoting BOTT was black. I don't think BOTT is needed, but maybe she knows something that we don't. I've been to Eugene and didn't have any problem at all. I actually thought that they were nicer than most.
Some Thoughts....
6:39 AM, April 3, 2008
.. Posted by tr400
I guess all start off by saying I'm a little perplexed by the whole concept. On one hand I am very shocked that they feel it necessary to have such a controversial training. On the other hand I am not surprised based on other things I have heard about Eugene in terms of their preparation. Yes, Eugene is the "birth place" of track and field in the U.S., but it is clearly not the city to host this type of event. From accomodations and the like being sold out for months, lack of adequate space and now with my sistas from the BOTT..(hilarious..lol) Eugene was clearly not prepared for this type of stage. But in the end, I hope that the real life interaction with all people, not just the "coloreds"...lol will make the OLY trials a great experience for all.
...there must be "what if we have a black president" crisis training going on somewhere!?...lol BOTT..wow
wow
11:24 PM, April 3, 2008
.. Posted by Anonymous
You have to be kidding me... This video makes me feel that "black folks" are not able to function in Eugene without an adequate supply of soul food, god, and hair dresser where they can get their HAIR DID! I think the African American athletes, coaches, and spectators as well as the Eugene community will work fine together. I can see it now a black athlete comes up to an 80 year old white women and ask where is a good place to eat at in town? The old lady would reply," Well there my fellow African American friend, I have been watching the news lately, they said I might run into your kind. They informed me there has been a temporary establishment created for you called "Bojangles" down the block... i hear that s*** hits the spot.. YOU FEEL Home Slice?... Diversity Training=Do not offend the "black people" training.. give me a break.. TREAT EVERYONE THE SAME AND EVERYONE WILL BE FINE!!
hmm...
10:46 PM, April 5, 2008
.. Posted by Anonymous
I live in Eugene and have seen all of the preparations for the Olympic Trials going on all around here. Honestly, I was kind of taken aback by the video. People around here are so into the trials coming back to Eugene, I really don't see the diversity of participants being a problem. On the other hand, I know that the people planning the trails want everything to go smoothly, providing each participant with a positive experience both on and off the track. I don't think that they meant for the diversity training to offend anyone, but instead make all the athletes feel as much at home as they can. I admitt the idea of that group is really weird, and based on my experiences in Eugene completely unnecessay.
Wow
9:00 PM, April 10, 2008
.. Posted by kev
Honestly this is just funy and odd to me i dont understand what they are thinking, i think simple repsect and the way the act would be fine i mean as long as nothing to ignorant is said or put down i dont see why they would have to have so called training for diversity i mean maybe its something i have never heard of before because i am from a city and all my life i have (even if it was out it in the country) been fine and havent seen many people get to crazy like this
Untitled Comment
10:28 PM, April 11, 2008
.. Posted by Anonymous
what's "dap" (dap from a bellman) and "pound"?
Poking Fun of the Situation
5:53 PM, April 17, 2008
.. Posted by Anonymous
Here\'s a parody on the whole situation:
<br>http://www.break.com/index/how-to-talk-to-black-people.html
BOTT training in Eugene
10:57 PM, May 4, 2008
.. Posted by Anonymous
I'm white and used to live in Eugene until a few months ago and this whole thing is being pushed by a handful of minorities who think everyone should treat them differently, which I find racist in nature. Eugene is a great place for track and everyone will be treated with respect. I look forward to the trials as I hope you all do.
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