 | Multicultural Musings
The Diversity Advantage E-ZineMay 2007
You are receiving this because you have shown an interest in supporting diversity and inclusion. It is my hope that the information you find in the following column is informative, useful and will on occasion cause you to smile. Feel free to forward this e-zine to your colleagues and friends. The more we spread the word, the sooner the world will see diversity as an advantage. If this was forwarded to you, you can sign up for your own copy by clicking here www.LenoraSpeaks.com and entering your email address at the top of the page.
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A World of Inclusion: News of Interest Not Enough Progress
According to the www.Catalystwomen.org 2005 Catalyst Census of Women Board of Directors of the Fortune 500, women have gained only marginally in North America in the past 10 years. It will take 70 years to be on equal par with men at this rate, they say.
Rwanda is #1 (48%) women in the legislature. Canada and the USA are not in the top ten.
Source: Statistics from Global Women Directors International Report |
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Tips, Techniques & Ideas Notes from Africa
The first of a three part series
by Lenora Billings-Harris
Hello Friends,
After spending several days in Johannesburg South Africa and then Dakar, Senegal and Gorèe Island, I thought you might be interested in the highlights of my observations and experiences from a diversity and inclusion perspective. As president of the National Speakers Association, a volunteer position, I am humbled to have the honor this year to attend several of our International Federation of Professional Speakers Association meetings around the world.
First the Background to Add Context
I last worked in South Africa between 1992, shortly after Mr. Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, through 1994. I stayed three weeks on each visit speaking at conventions, training and consulting with educational institutions and corporations. 1994 was the year Mr. Mandela was elected president, and thus was the beginning of the development of the New South Africa.
My last visit was two months before the election that changed South Africa. The tension in the country was palpable. There was great fear in every sector of the country due to the uncertainty surrounding this election. Would it bring on a civil war, as similar elections had in other African countries? White flight was rampant. Everyone’s nerves were on edge.
One of my clients there was an automotive company. I had been hired to deliver a full day customer service program to sixty of their managers. At that time, I was also searching for a topic area to make as my specialty. With a background in training and development, I enjoyed facilitating many different subjects; however, I knew as an independent consultant, I needed to develop an expertise in one area or one market. I was searching for the right topic niche, and had been regularly rejecting diversity as that niche even though it was becoming a popular training and consulting area.
As I prepared to deliver the workshop, the first participant arrived. Hanlie, a woman about 5’11” and 170 pounds entered the meeting room. When I said, “Hello and welcome!” there was no response. She sat down at the farthest corner of the room and ignored my presence. I simply assumed she was a reserved South African, and made a mental note not to call on her unless she raised her hand to participate.
The workshop went on without a hitch. Everyone except for Hanlie was engaged in all activities indoors and out, and the conversations were lively, just as I had hoped. At the end of the day, several attendees came up to me to chat and express their appreciation.
As the room emptied, I noticed Hanlie still sitting in the back. That’s usually a clue that the person wants a private word with me. After everyone left, she slowly walked toward me with her eyes looking down. As she came nearer, I could see that she was crying. Then, she grabbed me by the arms and gave me a “bear hug!” She was sobbing uncontrollably. Once she was able to talk through her tears, she released her hold on me and said, “I am an Afrikaner. Do you know what that is?” (They are the ethnic group stereotypically blamed for apartheid in South Africa. They were in control of the government when apartheid became official policy in 1948.)
I said, “Yes. I know.”
Hanlie then wept and trembled as she said the following words to me. “When I walked into the room this morning and saw you, every ounce of my being wanted to turn around and leave. What could you, a black person, possibly teach me? I knew I would have to stay and tolerate you because my bosses would be attending the workshop. I could not leave. I am now so grateful that I stayed. As we speak, my husband, brothers, and sons are gathering guns and ammunition to shoot every black person they see, as soon as the elections are final. I now know that I must go home and convince them to lay down their arms. Thank you for being here.” Hanlie turned and left the room. I have not seen or heard from her since that day in April 1994.
I knew in that instant that I must find a way to devote my life’s work to helping humankind understand diversity and embrace the power of inclusion. Although my subject matter that day had nothing directly to do with diversity, it had everything to do with it. Shortly after that incidence, I discovered the Xhosa proverb UBUNTU. Roughly translated it means, ‘I am because you are. You are because I am.’ Hanlie and I experienced Ubuntu that day, and it changed both our lives.
Until now, I have never written of this incident. I have rarely spoken of it, and never during a speech. On April 21, 2007 I shared this experience from the platform with my South African colleagues of all ethnic groups. I understood then why I had not been able to tell this story to other groups. I needed to internalize before I verbalized. I needed to share this story first in the New South Africa.
* * * * *
Next month, I will share ‘the rest of the story’ of the New South Africa experience.
Each of us can make a difference; all of us can have an impact.
© 2007 Excel Development Systems, Inc.
Re-Print Permission
This article may be reprinted in it's entirety if the following conditions are met:
The following complete tagline with the author's name and contact information is included immediately after the article.
1. 2007 Excel Development Systems, Inc.
Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP is President of Excel Development Systems Inc., a full service diversity training and consulting company that helps organizations discover and utilize their diversity advantage. Lenora can be reached toll-free at 888-288-8885, or Lenora@LenoraSpeaks.com. Find additional articles at www.LenoraSpeaks.com.
2. A copy of the printed article is mailed to the author at PO Box 1628, Greensboro NC 27402 within 30 days of publication.
3. The article is presented in a positive light as part of an appropriate business related publication.
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Useful Links For your convenience we add to this section from time to time without deleting any links. The new editions will be marked with an asterisk *.
Black Enterprise Magazine
www.ctrsr.org - The Center for Sexuality and Religion is an educational, interfaith, and interdisciplinary organization that assists communities of faith to promote sexual and spiritual health.
www.DiversityInc.com - The leading online and in-print magazine reports current diversity news.
www.glaad.org - The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
www.hacu.net - Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
www.HireDiversity.com - An excellent site that provides a link between today's multicultural professional and corporate America.
info.monster.com/alliances/diversity - As the need for diverse talent grows, Monster's alliances with organizations focused on specific demographic communities help customers continue to recruit the best and most diverse talent. List of links to these organizations.
www.jbcinstitute.org - The Johnnetta B. Cole Global Diversity & Inclusion Institute at Bennett College for Women was launched in March of 2004. The mission of the Institute is to create, communicate and continuously support the compelling case for diversity and inclusion in the workplace and the “worldplace,” through education, training, research and publications.
www.pflag.org - Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States.
www.SIECUS.com - the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States-has served as the national voice for sexuality education, sexual health, and sexual rights for over 40 years.
www.splcenter.org - The Southern Poverty Law Center is internationally recognized for its work against racism and extremist groups.
www.TeachersofColor.com - the unique resource guide for world-class teachers.
www.tolerance.org - Your willingness to examine your own possible biases is an important step in understanding the roots of stereotypes and prejudice in our society. Take a Hidden Bias Test at this site to measure your unconscious, or automatic, biases.
www.wisdomquotes.com - Quotations to inspire and challenge.
Thank You in over 465 languages
Listen to Lenora's latest radio interview! She provides an in-depth discussion on the value of diversity and why organizations that embrace diversity have the advantage in today's competitive environment. Click here, then scroll down to the February 21, 2006 episode!. |
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The Last Word.....
"Stereotypes are used to fit people into limitations comprehensible to the majority culture. Small-minded people cling to them as a means to make the large world digestible to their limited perspective."
Source: Luke Visconti, editor of Diversity Inc. Magazine
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About Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP is an internationally recognized speaker, diversity consultant, and author with more than twenty-five years experience in the public and private sectors. As an educator and keynoter, Lenora has developed a unique way of presenting sensitive topics in a high-energy, fun-filled, yet thought-provoking way. Call today to book her for your organization - 888.288.8885.
Helping you make diversity an advantage,
Lenora
Lenora Billings-Harris, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional)
lenora@LenoraSpeaks.com
888.288.8885 (toll free)
336.282.4443 (voice)
336.282.4487 (fax)
For more information, please go to
www.LenoraSpeaks.com |  |
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