For many years, it was good to be inclusive, by which I mean it was good to appreciate diversity and to acknowledge cultural biases.
Now, it could become illegal.
Arizona’s Senate passed legislation that would outlaw the use of public funds to promote diversity and inclusion, according to a report in the Arizona Daily Star.
Kansas lawmakers are considering a more modest attack on diversity, with legislation that targets universities that ask job applicants anything about diversity or inclusiveness.
Similar legislation is being passed or considered in other states served by lawmakers with fragile egos and no sense about U.S. history.
It’s good to celebrate what’s great about America. It’s also good to recognize that not all Americans enjoyed the same privileges and prosperity over the past 250 years. Our growth and progress as a society should be measured in part by whether all Americans are treated fairly and equitably by our society and its government.
As a nation, we have from the beginning debated what role government should have in promoting and safeguarding our rights. As individuals, we argue what role we — and the companies and institutions with which we do business — should play.
Throughout my career in journalism, I saw a lot of these debates and discussions.
Back in 1978 at Kansas State University, I applied to be the editor of the college newspaper. A panel of faculty members interviewed me for the post, and asked what I would do as editor to promote coverage of Black students at Kansas State University.
It’s too long ago for me to remember my answer precisely, but it was along the lines that news needs to be assessed based on its interest among those in the K-State community and its impact on that community. However, if two events or issues were of similar importance and interest, I would choose the Black-oriented story for coverage, because so much of our newspaper focused on students and staff who were white.
That answer sparked a debate between two of the panel members, who ended up giving me the job.
Over the years, in coverage decisions, hiring decisions and lots of other ways, diversity issues came up again and again. Not always directly, but in ways that made clear that how people view the world differs based on who they are and their experiences.
For example, when an imam told me that I needed to assign a male to cover an event at his mosque, I told him I wasn’t willing to make a coverage assignment based on the sex of the reporter. We discussed the issue, and he relented, although with rules about what access a female reporter would be given.
At the same paper, I found myself often assigning political stories involving people of color to one of the few Black reporters in the newsroom. The reporter finally complained. And his complaint was legit.
These were awkward discussions. But they made me look at the world and its issues from the perspectives of people who had different experiences. It made me a better journalist, and a better person.
