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What Equity Means to Me – This February

By: Thomas Aschenbrener | Posted on: February 1st, 2012 | Share:
Categories: Disparities • Public Health • Urban Issues

This February, during African American History Month, I wonder what non-African Americans (98% of Oregon and 96% of Portland) will reflect on and do as part of this recognition. 

At a time when there is still much intolerance, I am now hearing from more people who want to promote better conversations about our increasingly multicultural society. 

What do we value?  Where do we point when we want examples of an equitable society? What does it look like when we get to equity? When I think of the non-profit world in which I live, I see an opportunity and a responsibility to do much more to create an equitable society. But we need to do so with intention and clarity of purpose.

I don’t ever recall a time in my 40-year career, when conversations about equity, inclusion and social justice in our society, jobs and schools, were as active as they are today. I take this as an opportunity; we should take advantage of this readiness.

Looking into my own heart, I have come to think of equity in our society as having three major components:

- Gender
- Race
- Generation

Equity is about gender balance on our boards and among our staff.  As with the other components, groups that bring gender balance to their boards and staff are more efficient, more thoughtful, and more responsive to the communities they serve and less biased in their decision making.

With regard to race and ethnic background, equity is about intentionally embracing the differences that add value to the whole. It is so important to distinguish this from the melting pot mentality of assimilation.

Assimilation is a real loss to everyone if we don’t find ways to encourage and embrace the different cultural contributions to our society.

Stereotypes – both negative and positive – are destructive to our larger society. We all know that any assumptions about any ethnic group as being “uneducated” or “poor” are harmful to our larger common good. But we also must not continually point to those who “broke out of poverty” as great exceptions. This too is one of the most destructive perspectives that many white people bring to the table. It is this majority viewpoint that keeps reinforcing the institutional racism that prevents achievement by many more persons of color.  Rather, we need to challenge ourselves as to why we have not created the supports of our privilege to make the path to success achievable by all people.  When Arthur Ashe said “Racism is not an excuse to not do the best you can,” he was referring to his own race. But it works the other way around: But being raised with privilege is not an excuse to ignore the needs of others.

When I say that equity is about generation, I’m not talking about our elders, who actually represent a less diverse and wealthier proportion of our overall population. I’m talking about our younger generation, which is a much more culturally diverse demographic than the larger American population. 

We need to erase the idea that the “baby boomers” are our most capable leaders and the holders of the correct way to do things. The newer generation has heard us say “the world we give you is not your fault, but it’s your problem.”  The boomers need to get out of the way and let the next generation of leaders step up and take over.

For one thing, the next generation of leaders does not want to lead in the way the boomers have.  Research conducted by Pew Research Center among others, shows that the “millennial” generation values work-life balance, volunteerism for the common good, and living within their needs, to a much larger degree than the boomers. Wealth accumulation while crushing others is not part of their game plan.

So, this February, as I honor African American History Month, I do so through my universal lens of equity. In fact, many of these thoughts are influenced by the “Universal Declaration of Human Rights,” which was largely authored by Eleanor Roosevelt.  I have this small booklet right next to my computer, and I think it will be one of the most important gifts I will give to my successor when I retire in June.