The View From Here

Last night I attended the first class for my internship course. At the start of the class, we all meet as a large group then split into our individual groups with our faculty supervisor. Now, more often than not I don't think too much about being the only person of color in a class (or at least what I'm able to discern) or in a smaller group setting. By now I've gotten used to that experience having grown up in a majority White suburb west of Boston and worked at majority White companies and colleges for the past 30 years. However...I always find myself taken off guard in settings like last night's large group gathering for which I am truly the Only One among forty students in their last year of graduate studies with all White faculty. I must admit that I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach and had to gather myself to stay focused. It didn't help that some of my classmates described a diversity exercise they experienced as being "racist." I know that ex

As you may have noticed, many of my blog postings are about the issues I have about previous workplaces and their lack of diversity, lack of cultural understanding, institutional racism and willfulness in their White privilege. So much of it was about working through the oppression I experienced in those places, and in so many ways it was necessary for me to do so for my healing. However, most recently, I recognized that my seemingly constant outrage was not helpful in my pursuit for peace of mind. For a long time I equated being passionate to being angry. No doubt there are plenty of times that calls for righteous anger and moral indignation. Yet, I am now choosing to move on and let go even when I know the issues at these institutions are not going away any time soon. All I can do is watch "Rome burn." I wish it could be otherwise but my hope needs to be re-directed in other ways that will actually make a difference. Time to move on....