Diversity policy definition denies minority experience

Editor's note: An edited version of this column appears in the Saturday, September 6th edition.

When I was in my twenties, I boarded a plane and spotted one of the most beautiful women I've ever seen. She was about 5'4”, had a beautiful face, a mass of gorgeous blond hair and brilliant cerulean blue eyes. As I approached her, I was awed by her beauty but something was off. Eventually, I noticed her black eyebrows. On a second glance, I realized that she was Asian trying to look Caucasian. I have also tried to fit it our dominant Caucasian culture: I've permed my hair, ignored Vietnamese traditions and my heritage, and begged my mother to just be 'normal” so we would fit in better. I had believed it would be so much easier if only I was white. Maybe if I was white, I would not have been wrongly accused of shoplifting at Osco Drug or Wal-Mart. Perhaps people wouldn't be surprised by the quality of my English. Maybe people wouldn't ask me over and over how to pronounce my name or tell me how unique it is. People wouldn't assume that I'm great at Math and Science, or that I know how to use chopsticks.

These experiences are not unique to me, and all people of color have similar stories to tell. Our race and ethnicity is marked on our bodies, obvious for all to see. Still, I have learned that our differences are something to celebrate, even as we are aware of how it affects our interactions with others. I have made peace with the fact that I can be an Iowan and Vietnamese, while at the same time recognizing that the struggle will continue for all people of color. I have embraced the fact that our lives are inherently more difficult as we try to straddle the divide between the dominant culture and our culture; sometimes being accused of being too white and at other times not white enough.

These experiences have influenced my work to address racial inequalities in the Iowa City school district, and recently, some of my comments about these issues were criticized because I am not a 'minority.” To any ordinary person, such an accusation seems absurd, but it was informed by the language used in the Diversity Policy, which was adopted by the Iowa City school district on February 5, 2013.

In short, the Board determined that only for matters relating to the Diversity Policy minorities would be defined as those that receive free or reduced lunch (FRL), however the definition of minority would remain unchanged for other district policies. The Diversity Policy's definition specifically excludes someone like myself, which has resulted in community members using it as a way to derail attempts to speak to racial disparities in our educational system. My purpose here is not to criticize the overall goal of addressing economic inequity in our educational system, it is not to criticize the numerical goals in the policy, and it isn't to shame people who have said inappropriate things. Rather, I am addressing how changing the definition of minority has impacted ethnic and racial minorities like me, and how that change reveals a deep ignorance of the experiences and cultures of people of color within our school district. I believe that has unfortunately resulted in widening the gap between those of color and the dominant culture in the ICCSD. Although it won't erase the harm this language has caused, we would do well to remove the 'definition” of minority students in the policy, and just talk about 'FRL students” or perhaps 'low-income students” or better yet barriers to education.

Now, as any person of color would expect, I know many well-intended people will attempt to derail this conversation. Instead of listening and addressing these concerns, people have said that the different definition of minority is only for this particular policy and that I shouldn't be offended. Others will justify the use of FRL status because it is illegal to use race as a means to assign students to schools. Some others will say that I am just doing whatever I can to stop the Diversity Policy. To these and other attempts to derail the conversation, I say this: dismissing how people of color feel is disrespectful and exemplifies white privilege and cultural incompetency. Our visible racial and ethnic identities have shaped our lives in ways that others can only read about or think about, but will never experience for themselves. The term 'minority” has a very distinct connotation anchored in the history of this great nation and in the tears of many people of color. To tell us we are no longer 'minorities” because we have achieved a modicum of the American dream dismisses the years of hard work we have put in to make our lives and the lives of our children better. It denies our identity and our history leaving us once again powerless in the struggle toward equality and acceptance. Instead of telling us who and what we are, perhaps we should actively solicit and listen to the voices of people of color. We can start by eliminating the alternative definition of 'minority” in the Diversity Policy since it is only there for political expediency.

' Tuyet Dorau is a member of the Iowa City Community School Board. Comments: Tuyet.Dorau@iowacityschools.org.