Learning To Get Along: Living in a Multiculture

The core understanding of “living in a Multiculture is first understanding that we are, we do, and we will live in a multicolored, multiethnic, multi-class, multi-gendered, world of complex peoples who want two conflicting ideas: they want to be valued as individuals and also have membership and access to multiple groups. Then the question isn’t of “If” but one of how? And in the “How” is the observation that we are not very good at any of the skills and holding complex, multi ideas at once—it may not be our nature, we see in “black and white" and yet experience the world in a rainbow of colors.

So the goal is multi-fold
• Develop a better understanding for the vision of a Multiculture
• To delve into what we are seeking as the result of this perspective
• To explore empowering and blocking metaphor for our living with the multiplicity of perspectives, experiences, wishes and desires
• To develop skills that help us define and hold elements for success in our new-found vision
• To deeply understand that we best live this life when we can have empathy for those for whom we disagree
• That through blending the specific and local with the global and with power that we create both a personal life as well as a culture.

Stages

What is the vision for a Multiculture?
Examples, little and big (the California story, urban neighborhood
Richness vitality, flexibility, entrepreneurs

What are we seeking?
Equity, voice, contributions
A sense of role and place, a sense of empowerment
A history and role in creating the present, a sense of creating a “new” future

Metaphor for a Multiculture
What is the core metaphor (melting pots, tossed salad, smorgasbord, ...)?
How do these metaphor play out as a Multiculture

Holding two idea at once
How do we foster multiple perspectives?
What are good examples of this task?
Is this a skill or intelligence?

Duality
Given the idea of multiples what are we balancing?
A difference of being while honoring differences
A sense of power without removing other’s power
A sense that we value the individual’s contribution as a person as well as part of a group
That groups doesn’t define one’s identity yet forms much of who we are

Groups and stereotypes
Groups are where we want to be, stereotypes are how other define us
We wish to create a sense of membership and stereotypic dress behaviors music language all play a role
We each wish to be judged by the character of souls not the color of skin


Products and outcomes

A picture of the perfect person—an outline of the peerfect multiculrualists
attributes, attitudes
what do they gain?
What are the concerns and barriers to “Getting Along”

Rights and Responsibilites

I often think that the founders of this country should have balanced the bill of rights with a similar bill of responsibilities. For example, while we have the right the free speech, this comes the responsibility that we understand the power of speak, we use it with thought and care, and realize the power of words to hurt, subjugate, and to disempower. We have the right to property free from search and seizure, but we also understand that we are connected to other’s properties and that we have a collective responsibility for the good as well as freedoms from undue influence.

I bring this up in the context of our discussion because I think we, as white males of great privilege; we have a heightened responsibility that comes specifically from these privileges. With “enhanced” rights, a greater voice, a greater chance at freedom, an education and economic livelihood, we also have the increased responsibility to do something more. Not just to give voice to the voiceless but also to add many voices, not just our own. To empower, to do more than just equalize rights. To not only rail against barriers and oppression but also to understand the need to give a boost over barriers.

Each perceived barrier, both internal and external, that we have promulgated (this bears on the GPA discussion), where some students not only see the barrier but see it as higher than we would.

So what of this is our responsibility?

It is more than a “tide that raises” all boats. It more than making things “equal”.

It is the enhanced capacity to re-equalize. Affirmative action is a concrete example but I think there are many more similar actions.

Thanks! Thoughts?