Most conversations among Americans about diversity focus on race. Often someone gets fed up and points out that diversity is more than race relations. Everyone nods their heads and, perhaps, talk about gender, sexual preference or even obesity. Inevitably, race creeps back into the discussion.

Why is that? Americans are obsessed over race because it is an unfinished business. Unlike South Africa, Americans have not begun the work of healing the historical wounds associated with slavery. Why not?

One reason is that unlike South Africa, American blacks are not a majority in numbers and they are considered people who have equal rights. Equal opportunity laws and anti-segregation legislation give the appearance that black Americans can control their life destiny.

This is one reason many white Americans are tired of hearing about racism. They do not feel responsible for past discrimination, nor do they feel they discriminate. Some people of color, including African Americans share these views.

However, most African Americans see things much differently. They experience racism on a daily basis from their perspective. Many believe that the unresolved issues related to America’s history of slavery is the main cause of their suffering today. The result is intergenerational pain passed down through stories, personal experiences, government regulations, and the media. Every time a black person is put in prison, stopped by the police, or lynched, the pain associated with slavery surfaces for every African American regardless of their status.

Every time a successful African American is treated based on skin color instead of personal achievements, the individual and other blacks are reminded that race matters.

We have not made significant progress in American race relations so it will haunt us until we deal with it.

This does not mean that other aspects of diversity are not important. It merely suggests that making headway on race will help us make progress in every other area of diversity.

The workshop is credited to the National Coalition Building Institute in Boston, Massachusetts and is described in: Kogod, S. Kanu. A Workshop for Managing Diversity in the Workplace (Pfeiffer & Co, 1991).