The study of diversity has The study of diversity has many facetsmany facets

Examination of the different Examination of the different “cultures” each of us belongs to-“cultures” each of us belongs to-

Exploration of things that influence Exploration of things that influence the ways people relate to the world the ways people relate to the world

and one anotherand one another

GenderGender PersonalityPersonality DisabilitiesDisabilities Ethnic cultureEthnic culture RaceRace And others…And others…

Discrimination:Discrimination:Treating people differently based on Treating people differently based on membership in a particular groupmembership in a particular group

As service providers, those who As service providers, those who seek our assistance come from seek our assistance come from many different backgrounds.many different backgrounds.

““Cultural competence” is asked Cultural competence” is asked of us if we are to be effective in of us if we are to be effective in

our roles as helpersour roles as helpers

In part, this means learning In part, this means learning about other cultures and other about other cultures and other

ways of beingways of being

It also means having awareness It also means having awareness of how groups of people have of how groups of people have

been treated historicallybeen treated historically

Peggy McIntosh tried to make Peggy McIntosh tried to make herself more aware of how her herself more aware of how her experience might be different experience might be different

from that of other people when from that of other people when she made the series of statements she made the series of statements

in her article about unpacking in her article about unpacking the knapsack of white privilegethe knapsack of white privilege

This week’s discussion forum This week’s discussion forum asked you to think about what asked you to think about what McIntosh has suggested and McIntosh has suggested and

share your thoughts-share your thoughts-

Here are some additional Here are some additional questions for your consideration:questions for your consideration:

Should a landlord be able to refuse to rent to Should a landlord be able to refuse to rent to unmarried couples on the basis of the unmarried couples on the basis of the landlord’s religious beliefs?landlord’s religious beliefs?

ARTICLE: Christian Landlords and the Free Exercise Clause: An Economic and Philosophical ARTICLE: Christian Landlords and the Free Exercise Clause: An Economic and Philosophical Analysis of DiscriminationAnalysis of Discrimination

Spring, 2008Spring, 2008 33 Okla. City U.L. Rev. 11533 Okla. City U.L. Rev. 115 AuthorAuthor Roy Whitehead, Jr.Roy Whitehead, Jr.

Walter BlockWalter BlockPatrick C. TinsleyPatrick C. Tinsley

Copyright (c) 2008 Oklahoma City UniversityCopyright (c) 2008 Oklahoma City UniversityOklahoma City University Law ReviewOklahoma City University Law Review

Should it be illegal to discriminate against people based on Should it be illegal to discriminate against people based on sexual orientation? sexual orientation?

Anchorage Gay Rights Measure Is Set Back by Mayor’s Veto Anchorage Gay Rights Measure Is Set Back by Mayor’s Veto By By WILLIAM YARDLEY

Published: August 17, 2009 Published: August 17, 2009

The mayor of Anchorage on Monday vetoed a ban against discrimination based on sexual orientation, saying it The mayor of Anchorage on Monday vetoed a ban against discrimination based on sexual orientation, saying it was unclear that such discrimination existed. was unclear that such discrimination existed.

The mayor, Dan Sullivan, a Republican who took office on July 1, added that “the vast majority of those who The mayor, Dan Sullivan, a Republican who took office on July 1, added that “the vast majority of those who communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition.”communicated their position on the ordinance are in opposition.”

The ordinance, which would have prohibited such discrimination in employment, housing, education and other The ordinance, which would have prohibited such discrimination in employment, housing, education and other areas, was approved by the Anchorage Assembly last week on a 7-to-4 vote. Eight votes are necessary to areas, was approved by the Anchorage Assembly last week on a 7-to-4 vote. Eight votes are necessary to override a mayoral veto.override a mayoral veto.

The Assembly’s approval of the ordinance, a topic of impassioned public debate at its meetings for much of the The Assembly’s approval of the ordinance, a topic of impassioned public debate at its meetings for much of the summer, followed decades of efforts to pass similar measures. Mr. Sullivan’s father, George Sullivan, who summer, followed decades of efforts to pass similar measures. Mr. Sullivan’s father, George Sullivan, who also served as mayor, vetoed an initial proposal in 1976. Then, as now, the ordinance met with vocal also served as mayor, vetoed an initial proposal in 1976. Then, as now, the ordinance met with vocal opposition among Christian conservatives.opposition among Christian conservatives.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/us/18alaska.htmlhttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/us/18alaska.html

Does Racism still exist in Alaska?Does Racism still exist in Alaska?Some people would say yes. Here is one of many quotes from a 2002 report on the subject:Some people would say yes. Here is one of many quotes from a 2002 report on the subject:

Having been born a Native, raised in my village and having lived my life in Alaska, I can say with conviction Having been born a Native, raised in my village and having lived my life in Alaska, I can say with conviction that there has not been a worse moment in Alaska’s recent history for Alaska’s Native peoples than now. that there has not been a worse moment in Alaska’s recent history for Alaska’s Native peoples than now. In spite of all the gains Natives have made for themselves in virtually every area of public and private In spite of all the gains Natives have made for themselves in virtually every area of public and private endeavor, the result is a society in Alaska that only dimly comprehends their existence and seems more and endeavor, the result is a society in Alaska that only dimly comprehends their existence and seems more and more unwilling to accept, let alone celebrate, the Native place in Alaskamore unwilling to accept, let alone celebrate, the Native place in Alaska ..[1]

1) Byron I. Mallot, commentary, 1) Byron I. Mallot, commentary, The Anchorage Daily NewsThe Anchorage Daily News, Apr. 23, 1999, , Apr. 23, 1999, reprinted inreprinted in Alaska Federation of Alaska Federation of Natives and the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Natives and the Inuit Circumpolar Conference, Roundtable on Indigenous Self-GovernanceRoundtable on Indigenous Self-Governance , May 10, 1999, , May 10, 1999, p. 18.p. 18.

Racism’s Frontier: The Untold Story of Discrimination and Division in AlaskaRacism’s Frontier: The Untold Story of Discrimination and Division in Alaska

Alaska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil RightsAlaska Advisory Committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

April 2002April 2002

A more recent view:A more recent view:

Alaska’s racism is not all in the pastAlaska’s racism is not all in the pastALAN BORAASALAN BORAAS

September 02, 2009 at 10:45AM AKST September 02, 2009 at 10:45AM AKST

The decision to refer the recent attack on a Native man in downtown Anchorage to the FBI for The decision to refer the recent attack on a Native man in downtown Anchorage to the FBI for consideration as a hate crime is the right decision. Two bullies are accused of accosting him, consideration as a hate crime is the right decision. Two bullies are accused of accosting him, taunting him, mocking his rural Alaska speech, kicking him and shoving him around. Their taunting him, mocking his rural Alaska speech, kicking him and shoving him around. Their actions were unprovoked; he was simply a Native man in the wrong place at the wrong time, actions were unprovoked; he was simply a Native man in the wrong place at the wrong time, the victim of a random act of hate. the victim of a random act of hate.

The incident would have gone unnoticed had not the alleged perpetrators posted their crime on the The incident would have gone unnoticed had not the alleged perpetrators posted their crime on the Internet. Until it was pulled off YouTube, they probably gained significant status points in the Internet. Until it was pulled off YouTube, they probably gained significant status points in the sub-culture of hatred that exists in Alaska. I can see a group of neo-Nazis gathered around a sub-culture of hatred that exists in Alaska. I can see a group of neo-Nazis gathered around a computer yukking it up as they watched the Native man extend his hand for a peaceful computer yukking it up as they watched the Native man extend his hand for a peaceful handshake only to have it slapped away and told, “I hate you Eskimos.” handshake only to have it slapped away and told, “I hate you Eskimos.”

Tundra Drums NewspaperTundra Drums Newspaper

A link to this article in its entirety is posted on the Moodle site for our course.A link to this article in its entirety is posted on the Moodle site for our course.

Why is it important to study the existence of t Why is it important to study the existence of t historical and current discrimination?historical and current discrimination?

As human services providers who work with people of As human services providers who work with people of many different backgrounds, recognizing “diversity” many different backgrounds, recognizing “diversity” is not sufficient. It is essential to try to understand the is not sufficient. It is essential to try to understand the lived experience of those with whom we interact, and lived experience of those with whom we interact, and those whom we intend to serve. those whom we intend to serve.

Coming to terms with oppression is painful for all of us. Coming to terms with oppression is painful for all of us. It is also necessary, if we are to relate to one another It is also necessary, if we are to relate to one another in terms of both reality and growth towards justice.in terms of both reality and growth towards justice.

Becoming a “cultural ally”Becoming a “cultural ally” Acknowledges the privilege received as a member of the culturally dominant group;Acknowledges the privilege received as a member of the culturally dominant group; Listens and believes the experiences of marginalized group members without diminsihing, Listens and believes the experiences of marginalized group members without diminsihing,

dismissing, normalizing, or making their experience invisible;dismissing, normalizing, or making their experience invisible; Is willing to take risks, try new behaviors, act in spite of own fear and resistance from other Is willing to take risks, try new behaviors, act in spite of own fear and resistance from other

agents;agents; Is humble, does not try to act as an expert toward the marginalized group culture;Is humble, does not try to act as an expert toward the marginalized group culture; Is willing to be confronted about own behavior and attitudes and consider change;Is willing to be confronted about own behavior and attitudes and consider change; Takes a stand against oppression even when no marginalized-group person is present;Takes a stand against oppression even when no marginalized-group person is present; Believes he or she can make a difference by acting and speaking out against social injustice;Believes he or she can make a difference by acting and speaking out against social injustice; Knows how to cultivate support from other allies; andKnows how to cultivate support from other allies; and Works to understand his or her own privilege and does not burden the marginalized group to Works to understand his or her own privilege and does not burden the marginalized group to

provide continual education.provide continual education.

Diller, J.V. (2007) Diller, J.V. (2007) Cultural diversity: A primer for the Human Services. Cultural diversity: A primer for the Human Services. 33rdrd ed. Thompson Brooks/Cole:Belmont, CA. p. 57 (from ed. Thompson Brooks/Cole:Belmont, CA. p. 57 (from the work of Wijeysinghe, Griffin and Love (1997))the work of Wijeysinghe, Griffin and Love (1997))