Diversity

On Tuesday of last week, I was informed by the powers that be at my job, that I was scheduled for a "diversity class" on Friday. What the fuck is that all about? I just had to wonder. Does anyone at this job know me at all? I am just about one of the diverse people that I know.

Friday morning, I arrive at the class. There was about 30 people there. I was one of the first..LOL..I am usually 5 minutes late for work every day, and my boss told me to please PLEASE be on time. So, I figured that if I was late, someone would probably throw me under the bus, so I got there early. They were serving breakfast so we all went into another area to eat. All the girls kinda sat together.

When I get in the class, I go sit near the front. I usually have a lot to say, so I like to be near the front so that I can be seen and heard. There was a group of sista's that I know pretty well that were there, and they ended up sitting in the back. After everyone found a seat, the guy teaching the class came in. He was a tall black guy, but I could tell he was not American. He had a slight hint of an accent, and I was trying to figure out in my head where he was from. I guessed he was a Trinni. And I later found out, I was indeed correct.

When he came into the room, he had a look of disappointment on his face. When I looked around at our self appointed seating arrangement, I understood why.
All the whites were sitting together, and all the blacks were together.
So much for diversity, I thought.
I could have sat with anyone..it wouldn't have mattered to me, it just so happened that the white guys (that I also am friendly with) happened to sit at my table. Some people knew each other, others didn't. I knew every person in the room. I get around like that!

So, the instructor started moving everyone around. People started laughing when I was asked to go sit in the back with the sistas. One of them said.."excuse me, but you aren't doin' nothin' by movin' her back here!" Everyone chuckled. I even laughed, because it was true. I am comfortable around everyone. It was not a big deal.

The class was interesting. And at times BRUTAL. There was a movie that we watched, called "The Eye of the Storm" You can watch it HERE. It was way, WAY back in the day. I believe it was the day after The Reverand Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was murdered. It was filmed in Iowa, and it was a VERY interesting film. A white teacher decided to show her white 3rd grade students what it felt like to be discriminated against. She was later fired for this.

We then were asked to leave the room. When we came back, there were "titles" written across the board. They were African-American, White Female, White Male, Hispanic, etc.
We were then asked to write specific stereotypes about each of these groups of people. After we were done, we then had to find "group" and stand under our stereotypes and read what society as a whole thinks about us. That was the brutal part.
It was horrible.
It was sad.
It made me upset.

We told some personal stories, where we felt discriminated against. I almost told my story about that bitch from the cruise that I was about to catch a charge for, but changed my mind. That is too personal, and I didn't want to stir up any shit.

After the class, I was approached by the instructor. It seems that he is interested in having me teach some diversity classes at my company. I have to be trained first, but I think I can handle it...Only problem, I am afraid to talk infront of people. It scares the shit out of me, and takes my breath away. I don't know anyone that does public speaking....except...THIS CHICK!!...
She is the only person that reads my blog anyway.

So, Tee...Holla at your girl and send a sista some speaking tips or I swear,
I will choke on my words.

I guess, that we all have something to learn about diversity. I am by no means perfect. But I am getting there, and I am willing to teach others how to get there too. And that's not so bad.