Diversity and Cultural Sensitivity Awareness is here to Stay
Despite living in the Age of Aquarius and over fifty years now since Civil Rights Bill outlawed discrimination; racism and insensitivity remain a living virus in this country. Today technology facilitates communications to flow instantaneously, unfiltered and uncontrollably, and that has intensified the current instability in our society.
The recent headlines stemming from issues of unacceptable behavior resulted in the cancellation of ABC’s Roseanne television series and a major corporation Starbucks closing stores nationwide to roll-out sensitivity training. These are prime examples to reminds us of the need to be vigilant when it comes to acknowledging indifference.
Many voice shock and dismay that our country, our communities; people have regressed to such, dire levels in the lack of tolerance, cooperation, and respect of others. Some blame the unrest to the unethical and sophomoric behavior of current politics; rising insecurities from school shootings, homelessness, scandal, racial profiling, anti-immigration, travel bans and so much more, these are chaotic times. The pendulum of tranquility and justice does appear severely tilted, with no immediate hope for stability; a ball of confusion that’s what the world seems today.
We face constant exposure and threat in protecting gender, religious and cultural beliefs. For this reason, diversity and sensitivity awareness mandates continuous alerts for prevention, diagnosis, support – and that’s what the world needs today.
The aforementioned Starbucks efforts to address major diversity issues are commendable. This type of situation simply doesn’t just go away or forgotten; hopefully, this corporation recognizes their campaign for awareness is not a “one time fix” as indifference, insensitivity, and discrimination need to be constantly monitored and managed. Professional training with the implementation of program and policy change mandates commitment. Creating, introducing online videos to address these issues are not solutions nor should satisfy a company prerequisite for employment. It is my perspective these types of responses would be foolish expectations as expecting a medical emergency kit would be in assisting someone choking.
Staying with health as an analogy, I compare managing racism or intolerance of others as the flu virus. The flu virus is constant as our precautions to combat the ill effects of the variable of strains present. According to research current flu vaccines likely offer nominal protection, yet the risk in not receiving an annual vaccination raises vulnerability to severe consequences. My perspective individuals require constant awareness in cultural acceptance, tolerance, and respect of others.
We face constant exposure and threat in protecting gender, religious and cultural beliefs. For this reason, diversity and sensitivity awareness mandates continuous alerts for prevention, diagnosis, support – and that’s what the world needs today.
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