Diversity and Multiculturalism

This week Cal is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the American Cultures (AC) requirement. The AC requirement, originally envisioned as mandatory exposure to the Ethnic Studies perspective (that is, a perspective that tries to talk about people of color, and the world, from the view point of people of color). Its a bit revolutionary if you think about it-- the only class that every Cal undergrad is required to take is one on the importance of race.

Or, it could be revolutionary. This is where I perceive the difference in diversity and multiculturalism. Diversity in the curriculum says "Every group is important to American history because each group contributed". Multiculturalism says "Every group is important to American history because each group contributed. So why have so many groups historically been ignored in the curriculum and in representation on campus? And what are the ramifications?" See the difference?

The requirement was not so much envisioned to change what students learn, but to change how faculty teach. There are faculty across the departments here who believe in an anti-racist, decolonial education that pays attention to environmental justice and other admirable efforts to heal the world. How do we get that to be the norm?