Are White Males Qualified?

Recently, Luke Visconti, CEO of DiversityInc., tackled the question, “Can a white man speak with authority on the subject of diversity? As a white man who heads up a major diversity organization, Visconti’s race is proof, in the eyes of some, that he cannot possibly grasp many diversity issues His answer to questions about his qualifications focuses on his life experiences and education, both formal and informal.
Perhaps we might also ask, “Can a heterosexual speak with authority on the subject of diversity?” Or a person without a disability, middle/upper class, non-Christian, white non-Hispanic/Asian/ethnic minority? Actually, the list of identifiers – individual, group, and societal, that might impact one’s insight into diversity are as numerous and multifaceted as the concept of diversity itself.
When I look at my own qualifications as a white male, I do not know where to start. I do know that my qualifications are not adequately summarized on my resume or anywhere else for that matter. Also, I am hesitant to draw a line between those who can speak with authority and those who cannot. And my background only tells people so much.
When I was asked to be the first Director of Baltimore City Community College’s Institute for Intercultural Understanding (IIU), there were some grumblings about the fact that a white male was heading up our institution’s primary diversity education initiative. At the same time, I knew that only my actions would dispel those doubts, and there were some folks who will always see diversity leadership as the exclusive province of Blacks, Latinos, gays and lesbians, and other minorities. While I do not agree with these folks, I can live with that. After all, that is what diversity is all about.