The Diversity Code

CHAPTER SIXWhy Isn’t It Enough to Just Acknowledge the Ways in Which People Are the Same?

Dear Diversity Diva:

I think there’s something wrong with you. Aren’t you encouraging us to be judgmental bigots by even noticing how people are different? Shouldn’t we just concentrate on the ways people are alike?

Signed,Simpler to Be the Same

The Opposite of Bad Is Not Oblivious

Oftentimes the approach that many attempt to take in dealing with diversity is to act like differences don’t exist—after all, if you don’t notice differences, you can never be accused of treating people differently or harboring prejudice, can you? But treating people as if they are all the same is actually the single-handedly rudest thing you can do. Okay, maybe “rude” is a little ...