Time to rethink shallow meanings of "diversity" and "culture"

Posting from the Association of American Cultures (TAAC) conference in downtown Denver. Thus far heard a variety of speakers on subject of "Global Connections to Cultural Democracy." Last night we heard from Doudou Diene from Senegal, who's the (take a deep breath) United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerances for the U.N. Commission on Human Rights. He's written books on the legacy of the African slave trade. He asked the crowd to reconsider the meaning of diversity in our culture. Too often it has been used to separate people rather than draw them together. He urged us to move from diversity to true pluralism, which is a value that, if practiced, can lead to true diversity. He also requested that we take a long hard look at the word "culture." We usually just think of the outward displays of a certain culture. For instance, a collector could have a fine array of African masks, yet that person could still be a racist -- and justify it. Said Diene: "When promoting the 'diversity' of cultural heritage, bring the conversation to the level of a value system. Consider that culture's lives as human beings, not just the trappings."