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Yes, Diverse Ways of Viewing Diversity.

February 12, 2014 by  
Filed under News, Opinion, Weekly Columns

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(ThyBlackMan.com) Comedian Jerry Seinfeld made some comments last week about not caring about “diversity” in Hollywood, especially in the area of comedy, and set off some very heated conversations across the country.

Seinfeld was on CBS This Morning being interviewed about his Internet-based show, “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.”  Seinfeld has been criticized in the past, as he is now, for having no minorities on his hit TV show “Seinfeld.”  When asked about this by the reporter from CBS, Seinfeld said, “People think it’s the census or something?  This has gotta represent the actual pie chart of America?  Who cares?  Funny is the world that I live in.  You’re funny, I’m interested.  You’re not funny, I’m not interested.  I have no interest in gender or race or anything like that…It’s more about PC nonsense than are you making us laugh or not?”

I happen to agree with Seinfeld.  I have never watched his TV show nor have I watched his webcasts.  He has absolutely no obligation to have a diverse cast on any of his projects.  If that really bothers you, then why do you watch his shows?  It’s called choice.  Turn him off and tune him out.diversity-2014

Maybe, just maybe, you are not his intended viewer.  Have you ever thought about that?  I don’t support diversity for the sake of diversity.

The rap group, NWA has no Whites in it; should they be required to have at least one White person in the group?  The Delta’s have no men in their sorority; should they be required to just for the sake of diversity?

If you want diversity, then it must be sought across the board.  But who determines what is diversity and how do you know when you have enough?

America, as a nation, has yet to come to grips with its diversity.  Unfortunately, far too many view our diversity as a liability –  as seen by the reaction to the interracial Cheerios TV that ran during the Super Bowl.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Whites are 72 percent of the U.S. population, Hispanics are 15 percent, and Blacks are 13 percent. For the first time in American history, the White death rate outnumbered White births in 2012.  This trend is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

So, this continued march towards diversity will only become more pronounced.  How that will be reflected in our society is an open question.

The Census Bureau projects It is projected that Whites in the U.S. within three decades.  What will be the impact on America when this happens?  What will be the legal definition of minority?  Will it be Whites who will be making demands of us – the newly constituted majority?

The winds of change cannot be stopped or slowed.  Diversity can and should be embraced.  Globalism has shrunk the world.  World travel is more affordable than ever before.  More Americans should take the opportunity to visit a foreign country this year.

Diversity can be an asset or it can be a liability, depending on whether it is embraced or resisted.  Certain things must be embraced in order for diversity to be an asset.  English must be the language that binds us together.  Knowing and understanding America’s “total” history is mandatory to understanding how good we have it.  Believing in America’s promise of freedom and opportunity, while never forgetting your heritage, helps you to fully embrace the American dream.

But, in this pursuit, we must resist the temptation to self-isolate based on country of origin, race, or religion.  I fail to understand how a person can live in America or any country for years and not speak the native language as too many immigrants have done.  Far too many people have never been to a church outside of their own denomination.  Far too many people have never been to an ethnic restaurant in their own city.

America is far from perfect; but sometimes we spend so much time focusing on that which divides us that we forget what unites us.  Remember, we can’t have unity without “u-n-i.”

Staff Writer; Raynard Jackson

Mr. Jackson is also founder of a political and industrial consultant firm which is based in Washington, DC; Raynard Jackson & Associates.

 

 


Comments

3 Responses to “Yes, Diverse Ways of Viewing Diversity.”
  1. toomanygrandkids says:

    Seinfeld doesn’t owe black people anything. He can make a show however he wants and hire whoever he wants. Black people should take some lessons and hire their own kind. Everytime when there isn’t enough or any ‘diversity’ somebody always bitches about it.

  2. James Davis says:

    Your Arguement Has Questionable Merit!

    You see,diversity should never be viewed in isolation. Whether Mr. Sienfeld employs minorities on his show should not be of major concern of those who are interested in a racially equitable society. The bigger question and concern is does his practices reflect the practices of the industry and his employers? If it does,,, the full weight of law should be brought against that industry and his employers. If we accept your line of reasoning, the majority population by their sheer number could bar minorities at will with no repercussions from any industry, any educational institution and even from governmental office, until the day when the minority becomes the majority.

    Our Democracy is not set-up to function in that way. Following is an understanding of the way our Democracy functions. Racism is lawfully unacceptable in our society, as it should be no matter what racial group is in the majority.

    Majority Rule and Minority Rights (From the Annenberg Classroom)
    The essence of democracy is majority rule, the making of binding decisions by a vote of more than one-half of all persons who participate in an election. However, constitutional democracy in our time requires majority rule with minority rights. Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States, expressed this concept of democracy in 1801 in his First Inaugural Address. He said,
    All . . . will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect and to violate would be oppression.

    In every genuine democracy today, majority rule is both endorsed and limited by the supreme law of the constitution, which protects the rights of individuals. Tyranny by minority over the majority is barred, but so is tyranny of the majority against minorities.

    This fundamental principle of constitutional democracy, majority rule coupled with the protection of minority rights, is embedded in the constitutions of all genuine democracies today. The 1992 constitution of the Czech Republic, for example, recognizes the concepts of majority rule and minority rights. Article VI says, “Political decisions shall stem from the will of the majority, expressed by means of a free vote. The majority’s decisions must heed the protection of the minorities.” The Czech constitution is filled with statements of guaranteed civil liberties, which the constitutional government must not violate and which it is empowered to protect.

    Majority rule is limited in order to protect minority rights, because if it were unchecked it probably would be used to oppress persons holding unpopular views. Unlimited majority rule in a democracy is potentially just as despotic as the unchecked rule of an autocrat or an elitist minority political party.

    In every constitutional democracy, there is ongoing tension between the contradictory factors of majority rule and minority rights. Therefore, public officials in the institutions of representative government must make authoritative decisions about two questions. When, and under what conditions, should the rule of the majority be curtailed in order to protect the rights of the minority? And, conversely, when, and under what conditions, must the rights of the minority be restrained in order to prevent the subversion of majority rule? And so it goes… http://www.Jobcreationnow.com

  3. Angye H says:

    I agree with the writer and Seinfeld. His comment in context makes sense.

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