Continuum on Becoming an Anti-Racist Multicultural Organization

Monocultural ==> Multicultural ==> Anti-Racist ==> Anti-Racist Multicultural

Racial and Cultural Differences Seen as Deficits ==> Tolerant of Racial and Cultural Differences ==> Racial and Cultural Differences Seen as Assets

Exclusive

An Exclusionary Institution

• Intentionally and publicly excludes or segregates African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans
• Intentionally and publicly enforces the racist status quo throughout institution
• Institutionalization of racism includes formal policies and practices, teachings, and decision making on all levels
• Usually has similar intentional policies and practices towards other socially oppressed groups such as women, gays and lesbians, Third World Citizens, etc.
• Openly maintains the dominant group’s power and privilege

Passive

A “Club” Institution

• Tolerant of a limited number of “token” People of Color and members from other social identify groups allowed in with “proper” perspective and credentials
• May still secretly limit or exclude People of Color in contradiction to public policies
• Continues to intentionally maintain white power and privilege through its formal policies and practices, teachings, and decision making on all levels of institutional life
• Often declares, “We don’t have a problem.”
• Monocultural norms, policies and procedures of dominant culture viewed as the “right way”, “business as usual”.
• Engages issues of diversity and social justice only on club member’s terms and within their comfort zone.

Symbolic Change

A Compliance Organization

• Makes official policy pronouncements regarding multicultural diversity
• Sees itself as “non-racist” institution with open doors to People of Color
• Carries out intentional inclusiveness efforts, recruiting “someone of color” on committees or office staff
• Expanding view of diversity includes other socially oppressed groups

But

• “Not those who make waves”
• Little or no contextual change in culture, policies, and decision making
• Is still relatively unaware of continuing patterns of privilege, paternalism and control
• Token placements in staff positions; must assimilate into organizational culture

Identity Change

An Affirming Institution

• Growing understanding of racism as barrier to effective diversity
• Develops analysis of systemic racism
• Sponsors programs of anti-racism training
• New consciousness of institutionalized white power and privilege
• Develops intentional identity as an “anti-racist” institution
• Begins to develop accountability to racially oppressed communities
• Increasing commitment to dismantle racism and eliminate inherent white advantage
• Actively recruits and promotes members of groups have been historically denied access and opportunity

But

• Institutional structures and culture that maintain white power and privilege still intact and relatively untouched

Structural Change

A Transforming Institution

• Commits to process of intentional institutional restructuring, based upon anti-racist analysis and identity
• Audits and restructures all aspects of institutional life to ensure full participation of People of Color, including their world-view cultures and lifestyles
• Implements structures, policies and practices with inclusive decision making and other forms of power sharing on all levels of the institutions life and work
• Commits to struggle to dismantle racism in the wider community, and builds clear lines of accountability to racially oppressed communities
• Anti-racist multicultural diversity becomes an institutionalized asset
• Redefines and rebuilds all relationships and activities in society based on anti-racist commitments

Fully Inclusive Anti-Racist Multicultural Organization in a Transformed Society

• Future vision of an institution and wider community that has overcome systemic racism and all other forms of oppression
• Institution’s life reflects full participation and shared power with diverse racial, cultural and economic groups in determining its mission, structure, constituency, policies, and practices
• Members across all identity groups are full participants in decisions that shape the institution, and inclusion of diverse cultures, lifestyles, and interest
• A sense of restored community and mutual caring
• Allies with other in combating all forms of social oppression
• Actively works in larger communities (regional, national, global) to eliminate all forms of oppression and to create multicultural organizations.

_{© Crossroads Ministry, Chicago, IL: Adapted from original concept by Bailey Jackson and Rita Hardiman, and further developed by Andrea Avazian and Ronice Branding; further adapted by Melia LaCour, PSESD}