The Foreign Service Journal, June 2015

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JUNE 2015 43 Blacks In Government: Working to Make DiversityOperational BY MARCUS C . S I NGL ETON T he USAID Chapter of Blacks In Government continues to work on an issue that precludes America from benefitting from its own history: discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs and other ideologies. BIG is a national organi- zation founded in 1975 to press for equal opportunity for and eliminate practices of racism against blacks; promote professionalism among blacks in local, national and federal gov- ernment; provide a communication forum for blacks in various agencies; and provide a nonpartisan platform on major issues that affect organization members. While many agencies give verbal support to diversity, statistics show that blacks are not being hired or promoted in government agencies at levels that reflect America’s demo- graphics. Neither are blacks given sufficient clout to have an impact on policy decisions. For too many agencies, the push for diversity has stopped at merely having people from different backgrounds present. Working in agencies that pride themselves on implement- ing U.S. government policy in the overseas arena, it has been important for BIG to advocate moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of thought that all people bring to the table. Diversity involves more than meets the eye: it embraces experience, thoughts, actions and philosophies. We support members attending the BIG National Training Institute, where professionals come together annually to share experiences and use their collective strength to confront work- place and community issues and increase their professional exchanges and networks. Interestingly, at this event we typically discover just how isolated many people at all levels feel as they silently deal with obstacles that others do not seem to recognize or encounter. We are often asked why BIG needs to exist. Looking at recent events, we are reminded that some decisions are still based on what one perceives when he or she observes the ethnicity, skin color or gender of another. There are many talented people who have chosen to make a career through public service and serv- ing their country, yet they are not able to give their maximum effort because they are confined by the narrowness of others. Our organization seeks to help people go beyond their own assumptions and realize what is being missed by walking a mile in the shoes of someone different from them. Visible diversity is making progress at some levels, but the invisible diversity often goes untouched. Many of the younger generation, who have been socialized in what America likes to see as a “post-racial society,” get their first wake-up call to limitations once they enter the work world. Mentor- ing programs have become much more important as people have debates with themselves about to how to react to various situations. Local, state and national governmental agencies are losing out as talented people choose to seek private-sector employment. We are working to help free young people from the con- straints older black Americans endured in public service and encourage them to reach for what ought to be when one chooses to serve our country. BIG is doing its part to help America achieve its own great- ness. If we want to be that beacon for the world, we must help create an environment in which everyone’s individual light can shine to brighten the darkness. In support of the U.S. Constitution, BIG works to operation- alize equal opportunity and make it a reality in the life of every public service employee. Marcus Singleton serves as the branch chief of overseas security programs in the Office of Security, Interna- tional Security Programs Division at USAID. He is the president of the USAID chapter of BIG. Many of the younger generation, who have been socialized in what America likes to see as a “post-racial society,” get their first wake-up call to limitations once they enter the work world.