Have you stereotyped someone today?
In the past week or two I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic. I can’t share the details, but I’ve personally heard stories about a couple of acquaintances who made some not-so-subtle assumptions about individuals who fall into certain “classes.” I’m sure you know how the conversation goes: “Since she’s disabled, she … ,” “He’s gay, therefore … ,” “She’s an immigrant, so …”
I’ve also been more conscious of stereotypes as I’ve seen the stories unfolding in the Strib about Somali youth and potential ties to terrorism. I cringe at the thought that all Somalis may be painted with the same broad brush and that local residents may start to fear the African and African American community as a whole.
Did you know that Minnesota has the most diverse Black community in the country? If individuals are grouped together simply by skin color, all sorts of cultural nuances are ignored. That’s a huge barrier to Somalis and others, according to Hussein Samatar, who I heard speak at an immigration and business seminar several weeks ago. A Somali refugee who came here in 1991, Samatar learned English, earned an MBA at the University of St. Thomas, built his career at Wells Fargo, and then founded the African Development Center (ADC). He also serves as a trustee of The Minneapolis Foundation, an MCF member.
ADC works within the African communities in Minnesota to start and sustain successful businesses, build assets, and promote community reinvestment. The organization provides services in six languages.
Diversity within diverse communities. That’s a concept worth contemplation — and action. Living up to diversity and inclusivity goals is no easy task. MCF members subscribe to a Diversity Principle that states that we will “reflect and engage the diversity of the communities we serve in our varying roles as grantmakers, boards and employers, economic entities and civic participants.”
To aspire to our principles, we must recognize and confront negative stereotypes, one at a time.
Join the conversation: How, exactly, do we confront negative stereotypes? What diversity within your own community is ignored or misunderstood by others?
– Wendy Wehr, MCF Vice President of Communications and Information Services
Posted by Wendy Wehr 
