How to Diversify Your Context & Why It Matters
A few years ago, I was sitting in a Diversity & Inclusion training, and the facilitator asked us to pull out our cell phones to look at our text history. She asked us to list a few things about the first ten people on the list. What race did they identify with? What about sexual orientation? Age? It didn’t take long for us to realize that most of the people in our text history were people just like us. I left that day feeling convicted about the lack of diversity in my circle of friends and connections.
I want to invite you to take a look at your inner circle, or trusted 10 if you will. In the chart below, list ten of your closest friends. Who would you consider to be ten of the most trusted people in your life? Then fill in the rest of the columns to the right. What do they have in common?
The purpose of this activity is to cultivate awareness. When I first looked at my phone list, I decided to make a conscious effort to develop friendships with people different from me. This requires intentionality and even some sacrifice. Relationships take time; there’s no shortcut to becoming one of your trusted ten.
Now let’s look at your current context. I’d like to invite you to evaluate your current rhythms, friendships, and media (including social media, podcasts, blogs, news outlets) intake. Are you following and listening to people who agree with and look like you, or are you diversifying the content you are consuming? Who you surround yourself with and listen to plays a large part in undoing (or cementing) unconscious bias and systemic racism.
Take some time to answer the questions below.
What neighborhood do you live in? What is the demographic of people who live in your area?
Where do you go to the grocery store most often? What area of town is it in? Who shops there?
What accounts do you follow on social media? Are they people like you?
What TV shows do you watch regularly? What kind of people are the shows about?
What about books? What authors are you typically drawn to? Have you read anything in the last year written by someone with an opposing opinion or a different perspective than you?
Take a look at your answers above. Does your current context allow room for you to move toward people different than you? Why or why not?
This list of questions is just a starting point for you to consider what voices and content you might be listening to on a regular basis. It’s human nature to gravitate toward people who look and think like you, but staying in the same lane as everyone else doesn’t produce much change.
The truth is, white people are often conditioned into upholding white supremacy and systemic racism. Speaking from experience, I didn’t know any better until I started researching and studying in my Master’s program. It takes a consistent vigilance to notice the patterns and thought processes that contribute to the oppression of people of color.
One way to challenge yourself is to start consuming content outside your context. Dismantling white supremacy and systemic racism is UNCOMFORTABLE. It’s supposed to challenge us to see things differently. Are you allowing yourself to be challenged? Or are you staying in your lane, afraid of what listening to other perspectives might mean for your way of life?
Consider this your invitation to crack the door open a bit and allow some new air into the room. Start listening to voices and perspectives other than your own. If you’re going to become an ally for people of color, you need to allow people of color a place of influence in your life.
In a few weeks we’ll be talking more about how to become a better ally. Keep listening and learning with us as we become authentic advocates who leverage our platforms for good!
About the Author
Tori Schaulis, Dressember Communications Manager, is originally from the Midwest, spent her growing up years in the South and ended up in sunny Southern California to start her Masters at Fuller Seminary. She’s currently in pursuit of her M.A. in Intercultural Studies with a focus in Race, Cultural Identity, and Reconciliation. After living abroad twice and working with international students at Baylor University, Tori decided to pursue work where she could use her passion to advocate for others. She is also a certified Cultural Intelligence coach and is passionate about combating bias and challenging systems. You can find her leading workshops in Unconscious Bias and having conversations about social justice and sustainable practices. When she’s not studying or working, Tori enjoys baking (and dancing) in her kitchen, writing, and traveling someplace new.