Today I read an editorial in the LJ (Library Journal) about minority hiring practices in the library field. It wasn't so much the article that got me started, but the ridiculous comments that people left in response to the editorial. Many of the responders commented that diversity is anti-White. You can imagine why I got upset and had to respond. Read my response below:
"As a Black Woman and Librarian, I take offense to some of
the comments to this editorial. First, Diversity isn’t a dirty word or a threat
and shouldn’t be used as such. To say that diversity initiatives are anti-White
is both an uninformed and disparaging statement. Diversity is an action of
INCLUSION not
EXCLUSION. Diversity initiatives
DO NOT seek to replace whites with minorities, but to include those
who for far too long have been excluded in the workplace simply based on their
racial background.
The field of librarianship has been a rather homogenous
field for as long as I can remember. My school Librarian was White, the Public
Librarian at my local library was White and when I started college, White Librarians
assisted me with my research. With the exception of my mother, who is also a
Librarian, it was very rare to see anyone who looked like me working at the
library. These women were smart and competent, good role models in fact, but
they didn’t know much about how to serve their non-White constituents. They
assumed that whatever worked for Whites in terms of collection development,
programming, and services worked for everyone else too. But this is just simply
not the case and people in the field were starting to recognize that.
It wasn’t
until I entered grad school, did I really start to see a push for diversifying
the field. I began to see qualified, creative, and forward-thinking African
American, Asian, Native American, and Latino Librarians alongside White
Librarians.
I applaud those who strive to make the changes that are necessary
to better serve their communities. If it wasn’t for their efforts, people like
my mother and myself, would have found it even MORE difficult to break into the
field that we truly love.
Due to her hard work, sacrifice, and persistence my mother
is now a Dean of Library Services. It was her drive and talent that brought her
to where she is now, not color of her skin or the academic merit scholarship
she received to go to college. And I am where I am now, a Public and Academic Librarian,
not because of my skin color, but because my employers recognized my skills,
knowledge, and determination.
I hope that the field continues to open up and evolve. I
hope that more minorities elect to enter the field of librarianship. Hiring qualified minority Librarians is good for everyone NOT JUST minorities. I believe
we can all learn something from one another and we can work together to advance
the profession."
To read the original editorial, nasty comments in all, click
here.
-Black Librarian
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