What is behind the accusation that Caucasians do not represent diversity?
By Steve Karp, MD
Why are the most diverse people in this country accused of not practicing diversity? In order to sufficiently ponder the question let’s define the terms. Diversity is defined in the Merriam Webster dictionary as the “inclusion of different types of people (race or culture) in a group or organization.” Diversity derives from a state of being diverse, which is to be “differing from one another or composed of distinct or unlike elements or qualities.”
Currently entwined with the concept of diversity is ‘person (or people) of color.’ As background and leaving aside what are considered slurs, in the first half of the 20th century the terms ‘negro’ or ‘colored’ or ‘colored people’ were in common usage though restricted to those of the Negroid race.
Other non-Caucasians had different descriptors -- for instance most people of Asian stock were simply referred to as Chinese. Over time those terms fell out of favor and by the late 1960s were replaced by ‘Afro-American’ and ‘black’ until ‘African American’ became the favored designation toward the end of the 20th century..........More
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