It's What We Are - Diversity

On this journey of diversity, we sometimes get a little overboard on what the true meaning of diversity and inclusion really means. Sometimes we tend to over-emphasize what we think and believe and tend to ridicule or speak bad about those that do not think or talk the same way that we do. Diversity means differences in everyone – all our differences. Inclusion means getting all the different and diverse ideas and thoughts and bringing them together to achieve great things.

I think Ellen DeGeneres hit it right on the button the other day when she had to stifle those that were commenting negatively about her friendship with George W. Bush at the football game. To quote a sentence from her “In fact, I’m friends with a lot of people who don’t share the same beliefs that I have. We’re all different and I think that we've forgotten that that’s OK."

It is not only OK it is awesome. We are all individuals and we all have our differences, that is what makes us unique. Different people, with different thoughts, ideas, religions, sexual preferences, education – this is called diversity.

As I look to understand if our genealogical background can have any influence in the way we are and our thoughts and ideas on diversity and see my heritage it is amazing. England, Wales, Ireland, Scotland, various African countries, Mexican and Native American. The epidemy of the melting pot that exists in the US.

If I can take this mixture that is me and use it to help others understand that diversity exists in all of us and we can use these differences to achieve outstanding things. Come along and ride on the fantastic voyage!

#diversity #ellendegeneres #inclusion #diversityinme

Mixed-ish before Mixed-ish

So, there is a new show coming on television this fall called Mixed-ish. The main subject-matter of the show is dealing with the issues of being born of parents of different ethnic backgrounds. In this case black and white.

This may be new to some, but it has been something that all sides of my family have lived with for many years. Here is one article from the Oskaloosa, Kansas, Oskaloosa Times dated 01 February 1890.

I remember an occasion while living in San Antonio and riding the school bus to high school when one gentleman decided to standup and count the number of blacks on the bus. When he got to me, I only counted as half. At the time it didn’t bother me, but it must have had some deep impact since I remember it vividly to this day.

Being an Army brat, we moved a lot. When we moved to Frankfurt, Germany it was not uncommon to see kids in school whose parents were of different ethnic and racial backgrounds, Black, white, Japanese, Filipino and others I don’t know. We all got along so well it was crazy.

Now it seems to be a thing. When I fill out job applications, I see all kinds of boxes you can “X” out. Black (but not Latino or Hispanic), White (but not Latino or Hispanic), Latino or Hispanic, Native American, and two or more races. This is a way for companies to help track the ethic diversity that applies to their positions and they interview and hire.

I have always known that I come from a mixed family background and have not really given it much thought over the years. Recently I did the DNA test with Ancestry.com and 23andme. Both showing close to the same results. My next blog will talk about these results.

Mixed-ish is not a new thing. It has been around a long time. The good thing is that it is being talked about since the mixed-ish population is growing rapidly.

D-Day 75th Anniversary

Today marks the 75th anniversary of D-Day, the Normandy invasion that helped liberate Europe. This year there seems to be more exposure to this event than in previous years, or, it may be just that I am paying more attention. I am seeing a lot more articles and stories on what happened and more stories on the under-represented minorities that helped fight this battle of WW II. Native Americans, Black only units, both male and female. Women who were nurses and pilots. All willing to give their lives for a greater cause.

I am proud of my heritage and those in my family that served their nation in the armed forces for however long. I have those that were in only for a short time and decided it was not for them and I have those that did 20 years to retirement. Either way, they all had the calling at some point. Every one of my 3 brothers enlisted in different services. 2 in the Army and 1 in the Air Force. I myself did 20 in the Navy.

As I search my ancestry, I found a few people that served in the military. From the Civil War to current. What a long history. Sometimes I wonder if in the Civil War if any of the ancestors actually fought against each other. Neither of them knowing what the future of their lineage had in store for them. Wow, can you imagine!

I would like to give a shout out to those in my line that served in World War II

Hiawatha H. Bland – Great Uncle

Vernon Nichols – Great Uncle

Victor Bland – Great Uncle

May you Rest in Peace – Thank you for your service!