Diversity Month

The Associated Students of Edmonds College would like to honor the month of April as it is National Celebrate Diversity Month. We believe this is a crucial observance in recognizing and understanding the myriad of identities within our community, which can and will lead to a more welcoming and respectful environment for all. One of the ways we plan to celebrate diversity is by introducing this weekly newsletter, which will highlight various identities.

For the first edition of The Diversity Month Newsletter, we will be highlighting the identity: Race & Ethnicity.

As we all know, Race is a social construct and is a way of grouping individuals based on shared physical or social characteristics. In the past, people believed that individuals of different races had different biological characteristics, and this belief was used to discriminate against different races. However, this belief was later debunked by scientists in fields such as Anthropology, who used evidence to prove that there are no significant biological differences between races that could warrant one to be ‘above’ another. 

History

Although it was proven that there are no significant biological differences between races, throughout history, people have continued to discriminate against others based on their race. Discriminatory practices driven by race were, and still are, common in the history of the U.S. In the past, we have seen many rights movements start to shed light on discriminatory practices that different racial groups were experiencing in America. Some rights movements in the US centered around race were:

1. Black Civil Rights Movement
   → Want to Learn More? Watch: Stamped From The Beginning (Available on Netflix)
2. Chicano Movement
   → Want to Learn More? Read: ¡Printing the Revolution!: The Rise and Impact of Chicano Graphics, 1965 to Now

Ethnicity or Race?

Ethnicity is another identity, often used interchangeably with race, so I would like to briefly highlight the difference between the two identities. Ethnicity is different from race as ethnicity refers to groups of people who identify with each other on the basis of shared attributes such as culture, ancestry, history, or a common language rather than physical characteristics. 

Reflection Question: How do you distinguish and describe your race and ethnicity in your identity/identities?

To conclude our Diversity Month Celebration, we will be having a tabling event on Thursday, May 1st, in Brier Hall. If you are a part of a campus club, organization, or resource on campus that supports/provides a safe space for any specific identity and are interested in tabling at this event, please contact: asec_diversity@edmonds.edu.