ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

If you find yourself in the grainbelt of the Midwest it's pretty easy to notice a lack of  racial diversity. Thank heavens for Black History Month's TV, radio and community programming to serve as educators.  

According to "Tell Them We are Rising" a recent documentary about Black Higher education, the fact is, it wasn't long ago that  Black U.S. citizens didn't have a choice of where to go to further their education/career. Nowadays, White campuses of higher education have mission statements to recruit diversity in both their faculty and student body. With these diversity intentions come ethical responsibilities. 

This was the topic of Boston College's Janet E. Helms, Ph.D., educator and research psychologist, reknowned for her racial identity theory speaking to a roomful of educators in UW-L's Cleary Alumni Center this past Friday morning. 

Cultural ethnicity on campuses determines a campus's moral behavior, values, customs, language and social skills run predominantly by White, heterosexual, privileged males ( I'd also add Christian to that list of modifiers) which is often invisible to that very same dominant group. Racism manifests itself in these power dynamics. 

Dr. Helms pointed out specific White cultural values including rugged individualism, rationalism, universalism and time.

The use of sociopolitical and economic power maintain the dominant  culture.

Major obstacles include not being able to talk about race and racism due to lack of training, acknowledgement nor self awareness of White unethical attitudes despite claims to being open to 'all' regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation and culture.  

White identity manifests itself in pseudo independence, immersion/ emersion, autonomy, assimilation,

Characteristics of an assimilation educational environment in Dr. Helms powerpoint presentation 

a multicultural assimilation or an integrative awareness/
inclusiveness environment which is one taking advantage of learning about other group, noticing when other groups are omitted, attempting inclusion, developing common ground and valuing all members. 

So how does 'ethical' include diversity?

Dr. Helms stated the empowered group must share equal status and recognition as privileges are relinquished and addressed directly.  Only then can intergroup conflict be reduced, inclusion promoted, changing social policies along with policy makers, enhancing diversity resulting in ethical institutions of education.

Thank you Dr. Helms for sharing your life's work and research. Glancing around the large University room I had to wonder how many of the few minorities filling the seats would still be on campus next year due to our Whiteness. If we are being honest as Dr. Helms pointed out, we've still got a long way to go to be ethically diverse in institutions of higher learning ...