Segregated diversity training session at Seattle City Hall stirs controversy

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

SEATTLE — A controversy has flared at Seattle City Hall over how a training program meant to raise awareness among municipal employees about diversity was implemented.

The Seattle Office of Civil Rights manages the training sessions on racial bias, which on at least one occasion, was voluntary for city employees. The classes are part of the city’s Race and Social Justice Initiative, which was established 10 years ago.

But the training sessions last month have drawn scrutiny because participants were separated into groups based on their race.

One session was held online on June 12, the same day that the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, or CHOP, was still referred to as CHAZ, or Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone. It was the same day that Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan told CNN that the protest area outside the police department's East Precinct “could be a summer of love.”

https://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Segregated-diversity-training-session-at-Seattle-15399209.php?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headlines&utm_campaign=spi_itsintheseattlepi

Wouldn't racial diversity training be more effective if you had people of different races? Those who are POC could educated others about their personal experience. Just a thought.

[Jirel]

1. Often it's not.

Having done a number of these in a legal conference setting, having a POC training and a white people training that POC can attend if they want works much better. It lets a different training be do e for each group. POC don’t need anti-racism training, but it’s a good time to have a separate friendly space, organize, and discuss both history and strategy.

On the flip side, it once again creates an entitled space for whiteness if you have a joint training. It is not a training for POC. It is not up to the POC in the group to relive bad experiences - especially ones with white folks in the room - To educate the white folks. It is problematic to make POC sit there and listen to everything from horribly bumble-headed but well meaning expressions of being non-racist/anti-racist, to outright angry racist outbursts.

White folks need training from POC who have chosen the role of trainer, in a space where they can’t make the workspace more hostile for their colleagues of color. POC need the freedom to discuss racism in the workplace in a space that isn’t white-centered.

[bluedye33139]

2. +1

[MichMan]

3. I thought most diversity training covered much more than race

Sexual orientation, genders, cultures, religion and other types.