As Racial Gap In Population Quickly Narrows, The Need For An Understanding Of Diversity Increases

May 26, 2000
University Park, Pa. — Today’s multicultural society dictates that people have an understanding of diversity. But while much of the focus is on broaching diversity issues in the workplace, experts say that social habits tend to be far less easily adapted in adulthood than during the formative years.

Dr. Patreese D. Ingram, assistant professor of agricultural and extension education at Penn State University, has been studying the changing landscape of society and believes the nomadic tendency of Americans makes cultural sensitivity a key character trait to obtain at the earliest possible age.

"We’re becoming a much more mobile society today," said Ingram in a recent interview on Penn State’s public broadcasting show "Take Note." "It’s very likely that our children, even though they may not see the diversity in their community right now, will in their lifetime interact with people who are different from themselves when they go away to college or get a job outside their community."

Ingram said that society will increasingly require people to interact and work effectively with people having different customs and values. Penn State’s extension efforts are helping both youths and their families be more comfortable with such situations before they arise.

"In Penn State 4-H program we provide children and adults alike with opportunities to share and learn about each others’ cultures and traditions, including issues of prejudice and stereotyping," said Mary Miller, Penn State 4-H extension agent for Montgomery County.

Children are targeted early, as research shows they start to notice differences among people at the preschool age. An educational tactic Ingram employs for children involves potatoes. "Most people take potatoes for granted, and sometimes we do the same with people," she said.

To demonstrate the flaw in this reasoning, Ingram asks each student to select a potato and take a few minutes to get to know their potato by examining it and even telling a story about their new ‘potato friend.’ She then takes all the potatoes and mixes them in a bag, dumps them on a table, and asks each child to find their potato. Amazingly, according to Ingram, students invariably find their potato. Following the exercise, the group talks about how maybe potatoes are similar to people.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 12 percent of all Americans were non-white in 1890. But the gap is narrowing at such a rate that current racial and ethnic minorities are expected to be the majority by the year 2050.

Miller said that extension tries to help people understand and relate to those of different ancestry or religion without sacrificing their individual heritage and beliefs.

"We emphasize maintaining our own customs and traditions, but we hope that people will be able to come together like a mosaic or tossed salad," she said. "We’re all in it together, but at the same time we don’t have to lose our group identities."

Contact: Tysen Kendig, Department of Public Information, (814) 865-7517 or .