PART II. 5: Interpersonal Development Competencies---Competency Five (5): Appreciating Diversity

Competency Five (5): Appreciating Diversity

Introduction 

            The issue of diversity has had many different connotations and interpretations particularly among human beings. When we look at God’s creation, we see diversity all over places. That’s why nature is full of diverse creatures and things. We see a variety in colors, in sizes, in highs, shapes, and the list goes on, and on.

            However, when it comes to human beings, instead of being a blessing, diversity or variety appears rather as a curse. How then can we appreciate diversity and help others to discover the beauty, the preciousness, and the joy there is in diversity?

Defintions

 

Diversity 

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines diversity as “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements . . . especially, the inclusion of people of different races, . . .  cultures, etc. in a group or organization.” Another synonym of diversity may be variety of different elements, things or people.  

 

Multiculture

            Multiculture stands for cultural plurality or diversity if well managed, brings people together and gives way to friendliness among people of diverse background, tribes, race, education, and social status, etc. 

Multicultural awareness

            Awareness being “the quality or state of being aware: knowledge and understanding that something is happening or exists,” according to the Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary. Multicultural awareness is the purposeful or deliberate consciousness of the existence of diverse cultures in presence as we interact with people. For, as DuPraw & Axner (1997) argue, “oftentimes we aren’t aware that culture is acting upon us. Sometimes we are not even aware that we have cultural values or assumptions that are different from others” (see Cunningham, 2016, p. 1).

Some key competency components

Multicultural awareness

We talk of multicultural awareness when we are conscious of the presence of other cultures in presence. When that awareness is in place and well accepted, then the rest will follow. The reason why I intentionally mention “acceptance” is because, sometimes, we may be somehow aware of the reality of the multiple cultures in presence but some people would refuse to accept that fact. They are like blinded by their own opinion or position. Therefore, it becomes very difficult to help them see the reality of diversity. Whereas when the awareness is accepted, then, one can learn to humble himself/herself, start the dialogue or conversation, the negotiations, and make room for the “other” or the “others.” From that understanding, the implementation of principles such as respect of others’ freedom, the appreciation of others in all facets of their lives and cultures, etc., will be appreciated even cherished. And living together becomes a great blessing.  

 

Advantages & challenges of a diverse society 

 

            Diversity has many advantages that cannot be underestimated. Let me just mention one or 

 

two of those precious good things thereof:

 

Richness

            The richness of a diverse society cannot be underestimated. Not only is it colorful, therefore, beautiful (look how nature is so colorful and beautiful during autumn), but because variety should always  bring (and it does when allowed to work) “a plus” to any given group, institution or organization, whether locally or nationally, internationally. I have become a promoter of cultural diversity, plurality, and an advocate of freedom and tolerance. Because that is how the Lord Christ Jesus wants it. My formation in higher education has added much to it. I feel and I see that I have been prepared to launch this concept of promoting what late president Leopold Sédar Senghor of Senegal used to call the appointment of “giving and taking” so that in the end, we may all belong to “the civilization of the universal” (Mabana, 2013, p. 1). 

Strengths

            Coming to the strengths of diversity, the first one I owe it to King Solomon who said: “two are better than one” (Eccl. 4:9), and “many cords are better than only one” (Eccl. 4:12). Moreover, there is also a common saying in French that emphasizes the same concept, whereby, “l’union fait la force,” meaning, “unity or union is strength.” No doubt, diversity (cultural plurality) has some special strength in it which needs to be acknowledged and appreciated, and people will go a very long way on this life’s journey as well as its mission.

            However, such a blessing is not without challenges, some significant tension can exist (and does

 

exist) among those various groups that are called upon to live together, in unity and peace, in a certain 

social environment because they are bound to share that biotope. 

 

Tension

            There are many sources of tension among multicultural groups, be it tension due to different cultural perceptions or interpretations or understanding, etc. Those different groups have different worldviews, cultural backgrounds (individual or collective), etc. Therefore, it requires some special attention to navigate the multicultural group smoothly and successfully. I still remember how very difficult it is to keep everybody together in my home country (Cameroon). Not only do we have the problem of managing those 280 tribes successfully, but there is also the big gap between the French speaking Cameroonians and the English speaking Cameroonians (as it is in Canada, between the Quebecois and the rest of Canada). 

Differences

            Differences, if not well accepted, managed, and tapped, can become a real source of big challenges. History is full of examples such: (1) social casts in many parts of the world, (2) Hitlerian Arianism upon which Nazism was built, (3) social exploitation of the poor by the rich (like the aristocrats), the abuse of women by men, etc., whereas, if well tapped and channeled, the are definitely a source of great power as well mentioned above, because those differences bring about principles  such as support, assistance, complementarity, etc.

Positive regard for differences

            I have come to enjoy the environment of a diverse society, particularly after taking some courses such as EDAL 667 “Leadership in higher education,”  EDAL 676 “The administration of academic services” (Bolman & Gallos, 2011; Christensen & Eyring, 2011—see some details below), EDAL 674 “The administration of students services” (see more details below), LEAD 644“Leadership and organizational dynamics” (see details below), etc. I remember struggling with those concepts in class as well as when I had to post some discussion items on the LearningHub and, of course, when I was writing those papers for submission. Those courses really challenged me, shaped me, and equipped me with so many tools and understanding that will help me do far better than when I first run institutions and organizations previously. I wish I had known those precious lessons before taking up my leadership roles.

            In short, I view myself as a man of the people because though I am highly task-oriented, I am also highly people-oriented. In the Blake & Mouton leadership grid, I score high in both task-orientation as well as people-orientation. In fact, on Andrews University campus, many people  (faculty, staff, and student) are my friends (Blacks, White Caucasians from Europe or America, Latinos, Asians, Africans, Arabs, Christians, non-Christians, Indus, Arabs, etc.). I feel comfortable in their presence, and they do too. One day, a student told me that I had become too famous on campus. I replied that it was God’s doing so that I may be a blessing to people and glorify my Savior and Lord, Christ Jesus.

            However, I cannot say that I have mastered the science and art of building relationships and staying strong all the time. I know anything can easily shatter everything. I am of the opinion that, every morning, I need to ask the Creator of everything and everybody to give me His grace so that I may keep on learning to appreciate, value, and cherish the various people around me as White (1903) nicely put it in talking about my Savior and my Lord: “In every human being, however fallen, He beheld a son [daughter] of God, one who might be restored to the privilege of his divine relationship . . . In every human being He discerned infinite possibilities. He saw men as they might be, transfigured by His grace—in ‘the beauty of the Lord our God.’ Psalm 90:17. Looking upon them with hope, He inspired hope. Meeting them with confidence, He inspired trust” (p. 79). In entering the school of Christ (that’s why we are His disciples), I need to make His life and approach to life my priority by asking Him to daily reproduce His character within me, by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that I may display this kind of relationship with others.

 

Acquisition of competency 

            My acquisition of competency in the area of appreciating diversity comes from my childhood. My home country, Cameroon, has about 280 tribes (see the map of Cameroon below) with many different local languages or dialects. In fact, Cameroon is called: “Africa in miniature” because all aspects of African regions (forest, desert, savanna, mountains, etc. as well as the people, Bantus, Arabs, Sahelians, Sudanese, Fulani, Baca—Pygmies, etc.) are found in Cameroon, and they make the population of that country at the crossroads between the East and the West, the North and the South, of the continent of Africa. 

            In addition to that, when I accepted the Seventh-day Adventist message at the age of 16, and got baptized a year later, I was introduced to a variety of cultural background of missionaries from America, Europe (French, Germans, Swiss, Austrians, Spanish, Portuguese, Italians, etc.).

            Moreover, when I became the Executive Secretary of the West-Central Africa Division, and later the President of the same church organization, covering 22 countries (five English speaking, two Portuguese speaking, one Spanish speaking—the only one in the entire Africa, and fourteen French speaking), in order to be a head, leading by example, I needed to learn to be more open and appreciate such a diverse territory (see map below).

            Another non-negligible aspect of Cameroon’s peculiarity in diversity is that it has two official languages (French and English, like Canada). In fact, Cameroon is commonly “the Canada of Africa” because of that bilingualism. 

            Because, of all of the above, I got to love diversity, promote it, and encourage people to do the same because of its colorful nature, its beauty, its richness as well as its power.

        To crown it all, the Lord brought me to Andrews University I was to mingle with a variety of people (students, staff, faculty, and leadership) where I was able to interact with. Together with the courses, discussions in classes and outside of classes (on campus), I was able to acquire more skills to appreciate diversity the more.

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, it is quite possible to appreciate and enjoy diversity (socio-cultural, 

academic, economic, etc.). As a Christian gospel minister, my principle is the golden rule

 (Matt. 7:12) as it was taught me by the Holy Spirit at Newbold (Great Britain) in 1990. At that time, I was so depressed and was complaining that nobody had my time; nobody cared. So, the Holy Spirit whispered to me: “Why don’t you start? Why don’t you apply the golden rule?” By the grace of the Lord, I started, and before long, by the end of that first quarter (they run the school on a quarter-system), almost everybody on campus became my friend, and I was healed from my depression. Since that time, it has become my principle. Since I want people to be interested in me, therefore, I start by being interested in them, and they pay me back. And it has been working so well since that time until now, and I know, it will keep on working fine because it a God’s-given principle.

            In the context of globalization of our world, with internationalization and multinationalization due to international students fueling the whole global movements of people around the globe (Altbach, 2016, pp. 3, 73-78; 81-96), appreciating diversity has become a “must” social principle to live with and learn to like. Otherwise, one cannot survive in this global “melting pot,” a concept that used to be applied only to the United States of America but now, it has become global. And as a higher education institution leader, one cannot avoid that. I have embarked on it already.

            However, as mentioned earlier in the body of the reflection, there is plenty room for improvement as far as I am concerned. I need to know more, do more, tolerate more, and learn to be more inclusive than before. I hope and pray that I may keep on growing in becoming more and more patient with myself and with other people in the school of Christ Jesus.

 

 

Reference

 

Altbach, P. G. 2016. Global perspectives. Baltimore, MD: The John Hopkins University Press.

 

Bolman L. G. & Gallos, J. V. (2011). Reframing academic leadership. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

 

Christensen, C. M., Eyring, H. J.. (2011). The innovative university: Changing the DNA of higher education from the inside out. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.

 

DuPraw & Axner (1997)

 

Mabana, K. C. (2013). Léopold Sédar Senghor and the civilization of the universal. Sage Journals. Vol. 59(3-4). Retrieved from  https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0392192113493741.

 

Mabana, K. C. (2011). Léopold Sédar Senghor and the civilization of the universal. Cairn Info International Edition. Vol. 235-236(3-4). pp. 3-13. 

 

White, E. G. (1903). Education. Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association