At what point does "inclusiveness" become patronizing?

Looking through this evening's schedule, I noticed the following:

National Anthem
Rocky Mountain Children's Choir
A multicultural, multiracial choir committed to forming community around music

http://www.demconwatchblog.com/2008/08/official-tuesday-schedule.html


Why did the organizers feel the need to promote the ethnic and cultural diversity of this children's choir? Isn't it enough that they're a group of cute local kids who are going to sing the anthem, without pointing out "Hey, there are some non-WASP kids who are going to be on stage!"

It's reminding me of the one really, really, really white school I went to growing up, which was also the only school to make a BIG DEAL out of the fact that there were BLACK KIDS at the school. (And the one black kid at that school that I was somewhat close to wound up going to a historically black college so he wouldn't feel patronized.)

At some point it just seems like advertising your own inclusiveness is tantamount to wearing a sign that says "I'm awkward around people who are different from me," and it might be healthier to just be diverse without being so self-conscious about it.

Thoughts? Feelings? Impressions? :shrug:

people to flock to the big tent by showing the inclusion.

For awhile, during the seventies, I could excuse it. However having a multi-cultural event should be old hat by now, especially for the Democrats, instead of something that needs to be broadcast far and wide. Like you said, just put the kids up on stage and let them sing, don't point out that there are X number of AA's, X number of Hispanics, etc. It's demeaning.

I think that this is simply another step on the road of progress, over-compensating. Better than the outright racial hatred of the Jim Crow era, better than the subtle but strong racism of the eighties. Eventually we're going to get to the point where race isn't going to mean a damn thing, but that's a ways away yet and we have to go through stages like this one where people are being patronizing and over-compensating. I look forward to the day when we have a fully integrated society, where there is no racism, where there is no differentiation between races due to the simple fact that all people are treated as people.

I would have thought any children's choir in Denver should get a pretty good mix - it seems like a fairly diverse place. Makes you wonder what the selection criteria are.

"Hey, let's get Mandawuy in the group"
"Why? He couldn't hold a note if his life depended on it!"
"Yeah, but he's a Yolngu Aborigine. We don't have any of them."

:scared:

properly instead of trying some fancy crap, it woulda came off a lot better.

:thumbsup:

after the female-senator dog & pony show earlier today.