Minority recruiting not way to diversity

March 20, 2003

In response to John David Blakley’s March 19 column:
Much like the time he claimed that the 5th amendment protected us against illegal search and seizure, John David Blakley makes a crucial error by equating the word “race” with the word “culture.” I know African-Americans, Arabs, Hispanics and various other racial minorities who act in what Blakley would consider to be a very “white” manner and they hold views that are consistent with the stereotypical white culture. I have also, in my life, known white people who had been socialized in such a way that they acted as though they were a part of the stereotypical African-American culture. I’m all for different views and cultures being welcomed to campus. But, having race-based recruiting that is not only racist by definition but, is also not guaranteed to bring about cultural diversity, is not the way to go about it.
David Kahn

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