What does diversity really mean? We know that the themes of inclusion, social justice and civil rights play a part in its definition; but to foster the growth of a “diverse community,” we must consider other factors as well.
I believe that answering this question requires a personal and individualized approach, that sloppy generalizations are detrimental to our understanding of the word.
We can’t limit ourselves to seeing issues through a black and white lens; diversity should exist in all aspects of life and its emphasis should be felt every day, not just from 8:15-3:30 on January 20. We can’t make up for all of the injustice that takes place on the other 364 days of the year in 7 hours of reflection and good deeds.
So how do we go about integrating these sentiments into our daily lives? Why should we care? It’s certainly going to take some effort, but it is of the utmost importance that we start to seriously consider these questions and the forms their answers could take.
Deerfield, although at times a very tight-knit community, can also be a cutthroat environment where people are out for themselves and their own success. Although there is certainly something to say for this kind of strong motivation, it can also lead to forgetting to be concerned about those around us and overlooking currents of injustice.
Some people might argue that we are creating problems that don’t exist, that Deerfield is perfect and everyone is happy with the way things are; but this kind of an approach is unrealistic.
It can be hard to wrap our heads around words like “diversity” that are heavy with implications and can be understood in endless contexts, but this is no excuse for not attempting to create our own definitions and applications for them.
I believe that we are certainly on the right track to increasing self-awareness of the real world and its real problems. In the throes of this campaign against childhood hunger and social injustice, however, we cannot forget to apply what we learn to life at Deerfield.
These issues are not only omnipresent, but also continuous; they can’t be swept under the rug, or cancelled out by a few hours of community service. So don’t pretend that they don’t exist, but instead push the boundaries of your comfort zones and figure out what you can do to make this school, the valley that surrounds it, and the global community a better place.