In 1976, President Gerald Ford officially recognized Black History Month as a time to remember the contributions and legacy of African Americans.In honor of this month, I have been invited to share a few words about my journey with diversity, equity, and inclusion.
A few years ago, I decided I was getting too much of my information from politicians, mass media talking heads, and the ever-constant flame wars online. I realized I wanted to learn and hear more of people’s stories and histories.
Around that time, the DCBS DEI Council held a Crucial Conversation following the death of George Floyd. Prior to the meeting, I was worried that people might “tut-tut” me if I said the wrong thing or that I’d have to wear a shock collar and get zapped if I asked the wrong question. Spoiler: They didn’t tut-tut me, no shock collars were involved, and no audit support specialists were harmed in the endeavor.
That first meeting was pretty intense at times. People were working through a lot of strong feelings. At times, trying to communicate felt like a midnight walk across a minefield. But even though that Crucial Conversation was difficult, I could see it was important. People were working to communicate with respect, honesty, and clarity – good skills for any of us to improve on. Later on, I learned a big part of what helps these difficult conversations succeed is that the council emphasizes fairness and respect. Everyone comes to the table equally, and we agree to a few simple guidelines to keep the conversation going without harming others.
Since that meeting, I have learned about several tragic episodes in Black history, such as the 1921 Tulsa race massacre, where thousands of white people looted and burned 35 city blocks in the black neighborhood of Greenwood, Oklahoma, killing an estimated 100 to 300 people. You can learn more about the incident from the
Tulsa Historical Society and
History.com.
Recently, I also learned about a sad chapter in Oregon history: The
real estate “Code of Ethics” that restricted African Americans from living in most parts of Portland in the first half of the 20th century. As a result, one of the largest concentrations of African Americans in Oregon became the
Vanport housing project, which was built on a floodplain north of Portland’s city limits. The community came to a tragic end on Memorial Day 1948, when the
Columbia River flooded the area, killing 15 people and leaving about 18,500 homeless – about a third of them Black.
OPB has a great video if you want to learn more.
As someone who was lucky enough to have received a higher education, I was surprised and saddened that I was never taught about these parts of our history.
Last February, the DEI Council hosted Dr. Irvin M. Brown, who gave a presentation called “Allies, Drum Majors, and Gap Dwellers.” One thing he said stayed with me: It is important that we are at the table to discuss; we might disagree, but we don’t have to be disagreeable. He said, “Discussing race is never perfect, but we keep trying until we get it right.” We educate ourselves. We create authentic relationships with others. We listen, read, and find ways to deepen our understanding.
DEI Council members have made me feel included and like I belong. I feel welcomed as I listen and try to understand other people’s stories and experiences. I love the process of trying to better understand each other. Individuals might see things differently, or have different opinions, but these should not keep us from communicating or being in a relationship. The more I learn about our different histories and experiences, the more I’m encouraged that we have more things in common than what separates us. I believe we are stronger through diversity and inclusion, and that – when we listen to each other – we grow together.
I joined the DEI Council because I believe in working to strengthen the bonds between us, supporting education and fairness, and helping facilitate communication. Thank you for allowing me to share some reflections about my journey; I hope to hear more about yours.