Diversity in Public Education

How long do people of color have to wait until colleges and universities fulfill their promise of equal access? In personnel offices and in classrooms, we have been woefully lacking in our commitment to diversity.

Whenever issues of diversity are raised, a reactionary response is assured. Those in power (primarily older, white males) wail and moan about fairness to, of all groups, those from the majority. We are subjected to logic flip-flops and doublespeak in defense of allowing the status quo to continue. Diversity is termed “lock-step conformity.” Affirmative action is labeled “quota.”

Minorities are asked to make legal concessions in return for a promise on the part of patriarchs to do better. Quite frankly, it is far too little, far too late.

College leaders across this country have had every opportunity to act unilaterally to enroll and hire people of color. There have been no legal impediments to doing so for the last 20 years.

The claim that legal requirements for diversity will wreak havoc on our campuses is untested at best and mean-spirited at worst. Barely masked in this claim is a racism that is frightening in its implications. From where does the assumption come that institutions acting fairly and equitably in enrollment and hiring issues will erode excellence in education? Apparently from those asking us to allow them to leave their power unchecked.

These institutions belong to all of the people. It is time to institute two simple but profound solutions: Hire more people of color. Enroll more students of color.

ROBERT SIMPSON, Math Teacher, Fullerton Community College