Noticing diversity
Jan. 7th, 2012 10:02 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
soniaDuring a dream about attending a singing camp, I was pleased to notice a large group of African-Americans also attending and leading a song, in contrast to the usual monochromatic participants. Yay, my subconscious likes diversity!
I've been thinking about the fact that most of the people I interact with here in Portland are white, and wondering what affirmative actions I can take without tokenizing anyone.
Meanwhile, I noticed that of the five photo holiday cards I received, my sister's family is all white, but all the others are mixed race couples and children. Apparently, in a less overwhelmingly majority white environment, I do connect with a diversity of people.
At the game party I attended in Seattle, I was also pleased to notice a comfortable mix of skin colors. I think Seattle is more diverse, and also computer engineers tend to be diverse.
When I was preparing to move to Portland, most people said, "But it's so rainy!" One or two said, "But it's so white!" I didn't realize the lack of diversity would bother me, since I had only lived near large diverse cities. Now I understand better. I've never lived in a place where even Jewishness is rare and exotic and other Jews greet me with relief. "Yay, another one!"
I have this fantasy of living in a small town someday, but maybe Portland is as small as I want to go.
I've been thinking about the fact that most of the people I interact with here in Portland are white, and wondering what affirmative actions I can take without tokenizing anyone.
Meanwhile, I noticed that of the five photo holiday cards I received, my sister's family is all white, but all the others are mixed race couples and children. Apparently, in a less overwhelmingly majority white environment, I do connect with a diversity of people.
At the game party I attended in Seattle, I was also pleased to notice a comfortable mix of skin colors. I think Seattle is more diverse, and also computer engineers tend to be diverse.
When I was preparing to move to Portland, most people said, "But it's so rainy!" One or two said, "But it's so white!" I didn't realize the lack of diversity would bother me, since I had only lived near large diverse cities. Now I understand better. I've never lived in a place where even Jewishness is rare and exotic and other Jews greet me with relief. "Yay, another one!"
I have this fantasy of living in a small town someday, but maybe Portland is as small as I want to go.
