Seconde Nimenya’s new book Unlocking Diversity: How to Create Inclusive Cultures in a World of Differences is a much-needed and long-overdue book, especially in the wake of the protests that have rocked the world following the death of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement agents. police in Minneapolis. , Minnesota, May 25, 2020.
Racism continues to be a major problem in the United States and around the world. In this new book, Seconde Nimenya offers practical advice and new ideas on how we can live in harmony with one another, learn to appreciate and celebrate our differences, and create a better world for all. As an immigrant first to Canada and then to the United States from the East African nation of Burundi, Seconde offers new perspectives on race and racism, and the benefits of creating inclusive workplaces and communities.
At the heart of this book is the need to listen to each other’s diverse stories and the need for all groups to take responsibility and work together to create a world in which we can all live together. Seconde does not point the finger, he simply explains that everyone should be responsible for themselves and their efforts in developing an inclusive culture. We are all in this together, so we must all be kind to each other as we solve our racial and social problems to create a more diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
Creating inclusive cultures primarily requires increased education about what inclusion means. I love that Seconde repeatedly points out in this book that more inclusion means more, not less. Just because we want to include more people from diverse backgrounds doesn’t mean that other people will be left out, a fear that people from more dominant cultures too often have.
We must also be willing to answer questions about our cultural background without taking offense or hiding the truth. Seconde makes fun of herself in the book for this reason because when she came to the United States, she got tired of people asking her where she was from, so she started saying she was Canadian. Today, he is proud to say that he came from Burundi to North America. In fact, her first book, Evolving Through Adversity, tells her incredible story of growing up in poverty amid Burundi’s civil wars and how, despite all the hardships, she obtained an education. Today, he speaks to groups around the world, sharing his message of how we can overcome adversity, while developing more diverse and inclusive societies.
Second, he asks all of us to be open to sharing what we have learned from our experiences and not be too quick to dismiss people as ignorant if they ask questions because those questions reflect their willingness to learn.
Seconde also talks about the fine line people must walk when trying to increase diversity. She states: “If you are promoting acceptance of diversity for your group, but disregarding the experiences of other minority groups, and even the so-called privileged, that is not inclusive work. Creating inclusive cultures is not just about defending your own. people”. She invites diversity practitioners to advocate for all who are discriminated against for who they are.
Throughout this book, Seconde offers advice for both individuals and organizations to increase diversity and inclusion in their lives, organizations, schools, and workplaces, and focuses on how education is needed for such efforts to work. It states: “I believe that education is the only solution that truly empowers communities and has the potential to end the cycle of violence and poverty.”
In the wake of nationwide protests against racism in the US and even in many other parts of the world that took place in May and June 2020, Seconde’s message on systemic injustices is timely. It is not a government or a police department that is necessarily to blame for racism, but rather, Seconde says, “I often say that systemic injustices were not put into practice; people did. Therefore, only the people can end them. Many countries have rebuilt themselves from scratch and are a testament that when we want to, we can. Each of us is called to step forward, use our privileges, and meet our local and global challenges with a conscience. inclusive “.
Second, those in leadership positions must remember that inclusion is not about taking someone else’s privilege, but about inviting more of “them” to become part of “us.” He states that “there are no strangers in this life, only other people living their own human experiences.”
Obviously, our handling of racial problems in America has a long way to go. It is time for us to find new ways of working together.
Unlocking Diversity is a great book that will help you start to open up conversations, increase your understanding of each other, and do your part to make the world better for everyone. That may be the greatest challenge and lesson we have been assigned to learn on this planet. Until we learn it, our problems will never be solved.