Somethings Are Caught…
This is our world!..
The following conversation ensued between my god-daughter and I about a year ago when I tried to offer her a drink at my home;
Me: We don’t have any sodas (fizzy drinks) but we have some Cranberry Juice. would you like some?
God-daughter (G-D): No mummy U, we don’t drink cranberry juice.
Me: Why?
G-D: because we don’t like it.
Me: Really? But have you ever (personally) tried it?
G-D: No, actually I haven’t. I just know we don’t like it at our house. But what does it taste like (looking at me sideways)?
Me: Oh, just like Ribena with a ‘tang’. Wanna try? Here have a sip. (…and she takes a really suspicious sip, and another, and a mouthful and there you have it….another convert). But then I ask her why?
G-D: I just thought it’s for mixing vodka’s (my fault there) so since my mum doesn’t drink anymore, and none of my sisters buy it, I thought it’s just something you drink with alcohol so can’t be good or tase nice. I really like the refreshing taste.
Somethings are caught and this is true for almost every bias held by most. Barring those caused by direct experiences, one could argue that a bias is mostly fuelled by the subconscious and then becomes a conscious choice where one fails to question or understand why one makes those choices.
Ever wonder what we may be missing out on because we have not taken the time to be self-aware and question what we ‘observed’ that may no longer hold true even for the ones we observed? The point is this, unless we address these in ourselves, we will not find the need to change the status quo.
In the wake of all the shootings in the United States of America, along with all the mayhem around the world, it is safe to say that we must begin with us; begin with addressing the discontentment with things as they are and address what no longer serves us in order to become ‘equitable and inclusive’ individuals. . Until we address what agitates us, we have no moral justification to complain.
“It takes whole individuals to form whole communities” - USI
Speaking for myself, if I feel uncomfortable walking into and operating in spaces where no one looks like me, then I will be excluding myself and those who don’t look, think or believe like me from valuable information, education or integrative skills that could help them BECOME better at being themselves.
To establish, own or work in an organisation that is diverse, equitable and inclusive, one must first be all of those things or on the way to becoming by deliberate and strategic plans and actions. We seek to be a bridge, not a wall especially in the current dispensation where Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is taking on a life of it’s own. It is no longer enough to say ‘we don’t see colour’ but for our actions to reflect this sentiment if indeed it is our truth.
It would be interesting to know what some of yours are (either held or experienced), how they affect you and what positive suggestions you may share that can be integrated to help us all become more accommodating and accepting of one another and our differences, seeing them as assets instead of competition.
As always, enjoy a restful weekend. For readers in the UK, enjoy Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. For anyone else celebrating anything else, enjoy. For the rest of us who just need to be, rest is underrated; do find time to rest this weekend.
Till next time, thank you for reading and your time.
SHALOM xxx
