Now that I have your attention, let's discuss. At first glimpse one may think the title implies that race matters but it was really just the author in me who created a ploy to grab your attention. Besides, a good story, or in this case a good blog, should capture you from the start right? I am so laughing out loud right now. For the remainder of this blog, let's clarify that the true topic is matters of race and not that race matters.
On a serious note, a post by a fellow author by the name of Oana definitely caught my attention this morning with a subject she raised for discussion. Paraphrased, the questions were:
Are you only comfortable with people of your own race/background/hood?
Do you allow those friends who are not of the same descent to get as close to you as those who share certain racial/cultural commonalities?
These questions made me think over my own stuff. They forced me to acknowledge what I would call barriers in both my professional and personal life. Although I absolutely enjoy being around a diverse group of people, I have admittedly been limited in networking with those outside of my race and culture. When asked why, I would say it was lack of effort and not lack of interest. Many may not see this as a barrier but I definitely feel strongly that when you limit yourself in any arena, that you are selling yourself short. In my opinion, it is a missed opportunity to expand your knowledge and experience. Whether you are the minority in this world or the majority, there is much to be learned when you step outside of yourself and embrace life through the eyes of others. It also works wonders in killing many of the stereotypes that we as humans tend to harbor when it comes to those who are different from us.
Expanding your horizons is never a bad thing when it comes to matters of race. As long as one goes in with an open mind and sincere heart, I think getting to know others is a great thing. Personally, this question woke me up this morning and caused me to not only take inventory of my own strides in this area but to make an effort toward positive change. Think about it. When you network professionally do you only seek out those who share your same ethnic or cultural background? In your personal life do you only have friends who look like you? If you are guilty of this, do you think it would be enlightening to step outside of your box and embrace others?
When it comes to matters of race, expanding our horizons can do wonders for both our professional and personal well being. It can open doors to a world of endless possibilities. Rather than shutting the door to potentially great opportunities to expand your mind, I challenge you to open as many as you can. I know I will.
Happy reading and writing,
~Envy Red