Our diversity is what makes us special. Sometimes, childish fears try to overshadow the unique qualities that set the U.S. apart, but our unity shows our true strength and resilience. Our diversity is a beautiful reflection of our ongoing journey—one full of accomplishments, challenges, lessons, and perseverance. The U.S. keeps learning and growing together every day. And for those who aren’t playing fair, it’s time to take a little timeout to reflect and come back stronger.
Reactions to our diversity are reminiscent of a schoolyard after a bully’s defeat. There’s tension, but the bully and those who rally around them are no longer present, even if they try to rally and sway us later. Each decade in our history has seen its share of atrocities, and each is worth remembering. The lessons aren’t about comparing suffering. A different bully at a different time does not negate the suffering we experience today.
Every time I watch the news, it feels like our government is being torn apart—like a toddler upset about sharing blocks, kicking over everything. The other children either walk away, together, and ignore the tantrum-throwing toddler. Despite the temper tantrum, the toddler’s efforts to disrupt more are simply ignored.
It’s time for a timeout for bullies. Some ignore it, pretending to enjoy something else, hoping for a reward, but society remembers those who enable bullying. No one likes a bully, especially one who throws tantrums and refuses to share. Future generations will judge us for allowing racist, sexist, ableist, xenophobic, and anti-trans behavior to bully everyone.
- We must respect and believe in women’s equal role in sharing herstory. Continuing patriarchal, post-colonial, Westernized practices that exclude women as leaders will hinder societal success. Herstory is as important as History, and together they offer a clearer, more accurate picture.
- History belongs to us. An aggrandizing, tantrum-driven child won’t stop us from using traditional tools like word-of-mouth. For centuries, we’ve relied on music, storytelling, art, and dance—means of passing on stories. We shared our stories from the heart, valuing lived experiences over scholarly validation.
- We need to talk and share stories because we know “sharing is caring” from a young age. Isolating from others won’t lead to success. It takes a village, as it has for centuries. Those outside the village lose the ability to pass on lived experience. Their choice is to play alone.
It’s time to give bullies a timeout. Let’s create a space where we can openly share our truths and learn from each other’s stories, without bullies. Our diversity enriches our journey through achievements, challenges, and experiences. We understand that we can come together and share freely, knowing that bullies are not needed in our community.
About the Author
Femina Ajayi-Hackworth, is a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Consultant. She is an experienced leader who uses evidence-based practices to strategically integrate the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion into complex multi-layered systems. For almost 20 years, Femina excels in creating and presenting educational DEI Training. Femina uses best practices and maintains extensive knowledge of current events, equity, recruitment, community outreach, and retention issues which she incorporates into her work. She is a Certified Affirmative Action Professional, CAAP level.
