{"id":2720,"date":"2013-03-16T07:41:13","date_gmt":"2013-03-16T11:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/?p=2720"},"modified":"2013-03-16T07:41:13","modified_gmt":"2013-03-16T11:41:13","slug":"equitydiversitychange","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/2013\/03\/equitydiversitychange\/","title":{"rendered":"Equity\/Diversity\/Change"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Moe[Guest post by John L. Moore, III (Moe) of JOMA Arts & Consulting<\/a>, Charlotte, NC<\/em>]<\/p>\n

About a month ago, I heard from Doug Borwick<\/b> asking if I\u2019d be interested in offering any commentary to the recent blog posts that, in one way or another, were looking at pluralism and\/or \u201cequity\u201d in the arts.\u00a0 Ultimately I agreed to write something, as this particular corner in the arts and culture arena is where the majority of my career \u2013 and my life \u2013 has been devoted.<\/p>\n

At the same time he sent me links to the pieces he\u2019d read or been following as follows:<\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Nina Simon\u2019s<\/i><\/b> writings<\/a> about the Irvine Foundation\u2019s difficulties in getting the proposals they\u2019d anticipated for their Exploring Engagement program. <\/i><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Clayton Lord<\/i><\/b> presenting concerns about the difficulty of institutional transformation, especially with respect to diversity as defined by race. (Diversification as Disruption<\/a> and The Weight of White People in the World<\/a>)<\/i>.
\n<\/i><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Diane Ragsdale<\/i><\/b> weighing in with \u00a0On coercive philanthropy and change<\/a><\/i>, acknowledging that funders and organizations need to be honest with themselves about the time and money required for significant institutional transformation. <\/i><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Barry Hessenius<\/i><\/b> joining the fray\u2013Coercive Philanthropy? Legitimacy v. Wisdom<\/a><\/i> <\/i><\/p>\n

–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Ian David Moss<\/i><\/b> on\u00a0 \u2013Why aren\u2019t there more butts of color in these seats?<\/a><\/i><\/i><\/p>\n

In the spirit of full disclosure, I do not know any of these \u201cbloggers\u201d, although I have heard Diane Ragsdale\u2019s<\/b> and Barry Hessenius\u2019<\/b> names bantered around.\u00a0 Then, Doug<\/b> mentioned he\u2019d asked Roberto Bedoya<\/b> to pen something.\u00a0 Now, there\u2019s a person I know – and have known – for a long time!\u00a0 I then decided I\u2019d randomly select \u2013 and read, of course – the pieces that Diane, Barry, Clayton<\/b> and of course, Roberto<\/b> had written, then give my opinion thereafter.<\/p>\n

Each writer is different, stylistically, and is offering ideas based on their own personal experiences, however, I found Clayton\u2019s<\/b> and Roberto\u2019s<\/b> the most compelling.\u00a0 Clayton\u2019s<\/b> because he looked at himself and the life he leads relative to his\/the changing world around him.\u00a0 Roberto\u2019s<\/b> because he explored some of the psychological underpinnings that cause a certain view and attitude (aka whiteness) toward life.<\/p>\n

Admittedly, I am not a writer but I am asked to write stuff from time to time. \u00a0\u00a0Last year I wrote a piece for the online magazine Charlotte Viewpoint, (See http:\/\/www.charlotteviewpoint.org\/article\/2810\/Arts-leadership-for-communities-of color<\/a>, by cutting and pasting in your browser.) That opinion piece spoke largely about leadership of cultural organizations in Charlotte, NC but, as it relates to the blog posts in question, it ultimately is about change. Below are the closing statements from it.<\/p>\n

Yet, we still have many \u2013 including those who have the means to help make more change happen more quickly \u2013 who are slow to embrace a more enlightened view towards what is good for the broader community.\u00a0 When enlightened philanthropic leaders (even if they are enlightened with self-interest) meet and merge with charismatic, visionary, and committed cultural leaders, we all benefit.\u00a0 Sometimes immediately.<\/em><\/p>\n

Therefore, when Charlotte changes from the inside out and not from the outside in, our good work in the community will see quicker results, and longer term and lasting benefits.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

So, as I said to Doug<\/b>, this whole conversation has humorous irony embedded in it.\u00a0 Because since I made the initial segue from actor\/performer to now manager\/consultant over 30 years ago, this conversation in one form or another has come up continuously.\u00a0 Roberto<\/b> referred to it in his eloquently written piece.\u00a0 So, for me, the humor comes from the fact that we\u2019re still \u2013 and maybe we will be continually \u2013 talking this talk that began with access, then to representation, now its equity.\u00a0 But it\u2019s all one extension of the same.<\/p>\n

Yes, change that is true and lasting takes time.\u00a0 And ultimately, it\u2019s possibly an evolution of ideas, attitudes and mores that permeate society, over and through time.\u00a0 In the early 1970\u2019s, I was nationalistic (fight \u2018da man\/build a Black nation) in my cultural philosophies, yet by the middle of\u00a0 the 2000\u2019s first decade, I\u2019d evolved to a more total humanity based life approach.\u00a0 (\u201cEmbracing humanity, on a continual journey to enlightenment \u2026 growth of the spirit AND learning my true destiny \u2026 lessening of self \u2026 Towards HARMONY<\/span>, ACCEPTANCE <\/span>and freedom of the human spirit \u2026\u201d This was taken from a piece I wrote a couple weeks ago.)<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll conclude by re-stating statements from a couple of colleagues whose writings inspired this post.\u00a0 Clayton Lord<\/b> said in the clever work The weight of white people in the world<\/i>, \u201cBut it is not enough to simply understand the existence of disparity, we have to be willing to actually do<\/span> something.\u201d And Barry Hessenius<\/b> said in his Coercive Philanthropy? Legitimacy v. Wisdom, \u201c<\/i>It is hard to gauge what impact sustained effort has over time. \u00a0Certainly, if one\u2019s expectation<\/span> is quick change, one is likely to be disappointed.\u201d<\/p>\n

And finally, a thought to keep us all moving forward.<\/p>\n

From I am Willing<\/i> by Holly Near:<\/p>\n

I am open and I am willing<\/em>
\n To be hopeless would seem so strange<\/em>
\n It dishonors those that go before us<\/em>
\n So lift me up to the light of change.<\/em><\/p>\n

—–<\/p>\n

John Moore, III<\/p>\n

[Editor’s Note: Recent blog posts on this topic include White Is Not Transparent<\/a> (Borwick), The White Racial Frame<\/a> (Bedoya), On White Privilege and Museums,<\/a>, (Simon) and Giving Shape to Whiteness<\/a> (Lord).]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[Guest post by John L. Moore, III (Moe) of JOMA Arts & Consulting, Charlotte, NC] About a month ago, I heard from Doug Borwick asking if I\u2019d be interested in offering any commentary to the recent blog posts that, in one way or another, were looking at pluralism and\/or \u201cequity\u201d in the arts.\u00a0 Ultimately I […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2720","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-principles","7":"entry","8":"has-post-thumbnail"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1G6h9-HS","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4213,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/2015\/07\/afta-thoughts-2015-equity-watershed\/","url_meta":{"origin":2720,"position":0},"title":"AftA Thoughts 2015: Equity Watershed?","author":"Doug Borwick","date":"July 15, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Americans for the Arts 2015 conference in Chicago appeared serious about addressing diversity and equity.","rel":"","context":"In "Principles"","block_context":{"text":"Principles","link":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/category\/principles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Equity","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Equity-e1435255742641.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6402,"url":"https:\/\/www.artsjournal.com\/engage\/2021\/07\/equity-and-engagement\/","url_meta":{"origin":2720,"position":1},"title":"Equity and Engagement","author":"Doug Borwick","date":"July 14, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Good practices in community engagement and DEI work are closely related. 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