Consciously Inclusive-- Blog 8

Being born in a body that isn’t white is a paradox within the western world. One is punished, and thought of as peculiar. One is perceived as anything, but normal, and sometimes even exotic. Why is it abnormal to have a different shade of skin? Why is it problematic to possess your own personal identity? Society today offers much awareness to highlight, and sometimes even celebrate our differences as humans and individuals. However, this does not take away from the fact that there are certain situations in current society, certain mindsets and blood-stained history that points to the dark side of human society. This same dark side is a side that only people who are placed in a position that Dubois describes as possessing double consciousness can understand, which puts them at an advantage in terms of perspectives because individuals possessing double consciousness can see society and life in a way that individuals with only a single consciousness cannot. 

To begin, observing life through a single lens puts one in a position where they become oblivious  and sometimes unaware of injustices and the struggles of others, however with a double consciousness one is in more of a position to relate to others who share a similar experience. A good example of this is the black experience in America and the experience of other minorities in the sense of facing discrimination, having to fight for rights that the majority and single-minded  society get to decide are not relevant because they are not affected by the same issue, and the simple struggles of not being part of the single-minded community. A black man has to be cautious about what he wears at night and the way that he carried himself from day to day, otherwise, his life is in danger, and for some reason, he may be perceived as a menace to society. This is connected to the negative connotations connected to having black skin, and being a black male in America. One can be seen as or accused of being  a scoundrel, when simply, one is just minding his business. For his safety, the black man is forced to take precautions that his white counterparts do not have to deal with. These precautions range from him having to be cautious of what neighborhoods he is driving in, to being careful of how he even looks at a person who many perceive him as a threat. He simply is expected to subconsciously “know his place” in society, and to code-switch when necessary.People with a single minded consciousness do not have to wrestle with this reality. The sad reality of the single consciousness compared to the double consciousness is that no matter how the single-consciousness tries, it will never be able to grasp the reality of having to live with a double consciousness because this idea of consciousness is more than a mindset, it's an experience. 

Outside of the complex reality of the black double-consciousness, other demographics possess double-consciousness that differ from the specific form of double-consciousness  described in Dubois work, and they are just as valid in their own existence. Invalidating the experience of other demographics would be just wrong because they have their own experiences with having to modify their lifestyles to meet the level of individuals who live with a single-consciousness. For example, the plight of muslim women who desire to wear their veils in public in reverance to their religion and as a personal choice. These women possess a double-consciousness that is subjected to the haunting accusations of being called a terrorist, or insensitive people who demand to see the woman’s face despite her religious devotion. She is forced to contemplate if this choice may have to be compromised for the peace of mind of the single-conscious individuals. This is an injustice to her, and an attack on her identity. However, one with a single consciousness would struggle to see it as such because of their own justified reasons, and simply because they are not experiencing her experience. Across the board, people who are put in positions where they must operate with a double-consciousness have one thing in common: the validity of their personal experiences. The experience of an individual is never invalid, even if one does not possess the consciousness to comprehend it transparently. 

Furthermore, the main way that America should deal with this multiplicity or multiple marginal points of view , is through being more than tolerant, but being truly inclusive. In today’s world, where a wide variety of hate crimes and several forms of discrimination exist being only tolerant is not enough. To be tolerant is not respective of the individual, their identity, and their experience. It seems just simply a notion that is required for people to coexist with people different than they are without causing wars. It seems to just acknowledge the presence and existence of  people who are deemed different. When the idea of tolerance was engineered and put in place, it is possible that the intention was positive, but because of implicit bias, the idea of just tolerating the presence of another human seems very problematic . To encourage inclusive behavior, awareness must be raised, being more open to try to understand the experiences of those having to live with a double consciousness, celebrating differences, and embracing people for who they are. Nevertheless, to be truly inclusive is to respect the individual, their identity (whether it be religious, sexual, gender, cultural, or racial), and their experience. The key to the issue is for Americans to strive to be consiously inclusive.

Source:https://www.greenbiz.com/sites/default/files/styles/gbz_article_primary_breakpoints_kalapicture_screen-md_1x/public/images/articles/featured/handshearts_andromina_sstock.jpg?itok=VDIcOKDw&timestamp=1522867578