Will it ever include me? (The hard questions) African –Americans cry has been should I be considered a minority or a diverse candidate. The pool of diverse individuals has expanded with the inclusion of woman as minorities and Native Americans, Mexicans, and Asians included with people of color. By expanding both the pools, the African-Americans cry has lessened. The original marching orders have been to level the playing field. If the numbers of players are increased, in sheer numbers alone we are back to the original plight. By inclusion of everyone’s differences, by this statement alone, you do not eliminate anyone. Or the number that is eliminated is so small that it will not make a difference. In this article, we have made an attempt to address the most commonly asked questions and the effect on one specific segment of the population.

1. Diversity is not a program, it’s a change in the culture

We have been told that when you think of diversity that it’s not program but a change the in culture. We must make easier for the majority to make the decision to feel comfortable of electing someone who is not like them in everyway. It’s only common to feel your surroundings with everything that is like you. For example; If a baseball owner starts a baseball team, does he create a team with all home run hitters, the answer is no. If basketball team owner create a team, will they all be seven feet tall. It both cases it would be great to have all home run hitters and all seven footers on the team. In both cases it has some deficiencies. Having all home run hitters, the characteristics of everyone on the team are to swing for the fences. As you can see, every baseball situation does not call for a home run. The down side of home run hitters is if they are not hitting home runs then they are striking out. Can you imagine, the bases are load and a fly ball is what you need to win the game and all home run hitters a coming up to bat, this would mean we would either get a home run or strike out. Diversity allows everyone to demonstrate what they are the best at. There are single hitters, fly ball hitters as well as home run hitters. As in baseball, you are creating a winning team that should last for ever. The infrastructure will enable everyone an opportunity to develop and grow within the system and they will not be discarded because they are not the same.

2. Appreciating one’s differences 

Do we really appreciate someone’s differences? Let’s take an example, when dressing to go to the work, does it truly matter if you put your paints on first on your shoes on second. Should I brush my hair first or brush my teeth? In all cases, there is no right answer because the true goal to get dress and be on time wherever you may be going. Diversity is the same. Having different individuals to contribute to solve different problems are the best of both worlds. This would allow the manager or the company an opportunity to have all possible solutions to questions that normally there was only one view. You have probably heard the example of the stew versa the soup. Let’s take soup first, it’s a blend of all, nothing stands out, it’s merely soup. Now, let’s take a stew, every ingredient is unique and stands along. You can actually see the carrots from the potatoes to the mushrooms and taste their uniqueness.

3. Including women in the numbers, does it dilute the afro-American issues?

1. Do we need to redefine the word minority?

2. Diversity vs minorities, could they be one in the same?

3. Now that I have hired a diverse candidate, how do I mange him?

4. What are the +/- in a diverse candidate having a non-diverse mentor

5. Don’t confuse sympathy for appreciation

6. Re-exam what credentials are required to do the job

7. Stepping out from your comfort level(diverse candidates are always out of their comfort level)

8. By hiring a minority candidate, did I just accepted less than?

9. The economics of , my client base is diverse does it make sense to have a diverse staff

Where do we go from here? When will this new culture be the norm?