Two Steps Forward….Three Steps Backward: Are We Really More Accepting of Difference Today?

I have been an advocate for inclusive practices for more years that I want to admit. I celebrated by 61^st birthday last week. In high school in the 60’s, in my little home town of Niagara Falls, NY I followed Dr. King’s teachings, wrote what were then considered  radical pieces on racism as editor-in-chief of my high school newspaper.  In college, I was an activist, protesting the contemporary controversial issues like the Vietnam War, the Kent State shootings, and the Jackson State University killings (that happened two weeks after Kent State) and comments made by the president of my University that Black students did not really belong there. I took a class in women’s studies and wrote about unequal treatment for women for my college newspaper.

It is really frustrating that some 40 years later, I am still carrying the same banners for justice, still shocked when gross inequities raise their ugly heads and still dedicating my life’s work to inclusion.  I guess I was really naïve to think that by now we would understand the “business case” for inclusion. I like to call it the “survival” case. If we do not learn to accept and appreciate our differences, our world society will not progress, in fact it will regress and…not to be a fatalist…but might just become extinct.  World economists have acknowledged that the world predicament for women (70% live in abject poverty) must be corrected if the world economic conditions are to improve.

I am writing this piece this morning because I am more than frustrated; I am outraged at some of the events of past weeks that let me know that in many ways we have not come very far since the 60’s.

Rush Limbaugh called a Georgetown law student a slut because she advocated for a women’s right to contraceptives.  As a sign of progress, a number of sponsors dropped his show and due to public outrage he was forced to apologize.

There is a presidential campaign bumper sticker that reads “Don’t Re-Nig in 2012”. The creator says that it is not racist. What is it then?  The word “renege” is not spelled with an “I”.

During a recent NCAA playoff game, the University of Southern Mississippi pep band heckled a Puerto Rican point guard from Kansas State chanting, “Where is your Green Card?”.  The perpetrators lost their scholarships and were sent to two hours of cultural sensitivity training.

A 17- year old African American high school student, Trayvon Martin, was shot to death in Sanford Florida on February 26 by a Hispanic neighborhood watch captain because he thought the youth looked suspicious.  The watch captain is heard on 911 tapes saying: “They always get away”. He was told to stay in his car and to stop following the young man. He ignored the directive but has claimed self defense and as of this writing has not been charged with any crime.

Last week a jury convicted an ex-Rutgers student on hate crime counts and invasion of privacy involving the use of a webcam to spy on a gay roommate who later committed suicide. While I am thrilled about the verdict, I am still reeling over the incident itself.

I ask you, does it seem like we are regressing as it relates to our view of difference? Are we less accepting today?   I am encouraged that for the most part punitive action is taken immediately when such atrocities occur but I must admit I am angry that intolerance and hate still occur in 2012 with such regularity.  Please join me in showing up and speaking up when injustices occur.  Join me in a movement for continued education to promote understanding and acceptance, not simply tolerance.  I don’t think punishment is the long-term answer.  Let’s be more proactive.

This post was written by Mary-Frances Winters, President and Founder of The Winters Group, Inc.