Diversity Matters

The United States is known for its slang, but some expressions Americans use casually are considered racially offensive. If you want to avoid inadvertently hurting someone with your language, use this list to learn which terms to retire from your vocabulary.

By consulting diversity experts, encouraging team building and setting ground rules, you can hold diversity workshops that pay off.

Political correctness gets a bad rap. Both liberals and conservatives knock this form of decorum, labeling its proponents disingenuous. But in a society where people of diverse backgrounds often interact, racial sensitivity is key. Never has it been more crucial to counter racist behavior by distinguishing politically correct terms from racist...

Race-based political smear campaigns have existed for decades. In the 1988 presidential campaign, George H.W. Bush faced accusations of racism after his supporters created an ad featuring an image of a black felon from Massachusetts named Willie Horton to suggest that opponent Michael Dukakis, then governor of the state, was soft on crime. In...

Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Sonia Sotomayor are a few in a long line of people of color who’ve become prominent in national politics in the 21st century. But as racial minorities break ground in politics, race-based smear campaigns are on the rise. Why do racial advances in politics coincide with racial setbacks?

Blackface first became popular during the minstrel shows of the 1830s, but in the new millennium it appears to be more popular than ever. The list of people wearing blackface today includes fashion models, entertainers and college students who don dark face paint during magazine spreads and costume parties. Because blackface historically...

This overview provides facts and background about a variety of cultural heritage months, including Native American Heritage Month, Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month.

This overview of National Hispanic Heritage Month explains the origins and purpose of the cultural observance as well as the events held to commemorate it.

With one slip of the tongue, a racial controversy can start. Just ask the celebrities caught saying the N-word. Racial scandals aren’t always verbal. There are also race-based political controversies, such as the birthers who claim President Obama wasn’t born in the U.S. because he's Kenyan. For decades, some famous people denied their racial...

Discover the origins of Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month and the variety of ways to participate in this annual cultural celebration in May.

Each November the U.S. government celebrates Native American Heritage Month with a series of events and activities. With this biography, learn more about the history and background of Native American Heritage Month and useful info to have while taking part in the observance. Native American Heritage Month is a time to reflect on the...

Because Native Americans are one of the nation’s smallest minority groups, many people aren’t as familiar with them as they are with the country’s larger racial groups. Given the long history indigenous peoples have in the Americas, that’s a shame. The U.S. Census Bureau has culled together a series of interesting trivia about Native...

It's become increasingly popular for people to dress up as someone from a different race for Halloween. Halloween observers can avoid common racial gaffes by following tips such as not wearing blackface, Afro wigs and other items that may be regarded as racist.

Still deciding what to be for Halloween? If you’re thinking about dressing up as an Indian, a Gypsy or a Geisha, you might want to reconsider. Avoid racially offensive Halloween costumes.

The high fashion world has embraced Native American styles like never before—featuring moccasins, mukluks, fringe bags and feather earrings in runway collections. But is couture paying tribute to indigenous communities or simply ripping them off in a callous form of cultural appropriation?

A variety of U.S. holidays are regarded as racist or racially insensitive. Do holidays such as Columbus Day or Thanksgiving celebrate the conquest of Native Americans? Some activists argue so. What about Halloween? Observers of that holiday are increasingly accused of fueling stereotypes when they dress up as people of color from geishas to...

Both leaders and members of religious institutions can help to make their church interracial. Everything from where a church serves to what kind of music it features during worship can influence its racial makeup. End racial segregation in church by making diversity a priority.

Life on a predominantly white college campus will likely prove challenging for minority students, but there are ways for them to thrive at universities where racism is an issue.

In recent years, U.S. colleges and universities have experienced a surge in student parties with racist themes. This overview lists the most notorious racist college parties.

With mosque attacks in California, Wisconsin and Tennessee and the heated controversy over the Islamic Center near Ground Zero in New York, islamophobia is now running rampant in the United States. But religious intolerance is counterproductive to its proponents and victims, alike.

Myths about black marriage continue to circulate, thanks to the media’s unparalleled interest in the romantic relationships of African Americans. While sensationalistic news articles suggest that black women are destined to remain single, research into black marriage finds that most African-American women actually do marry and that there are...

In honor of Black History Month, the U.S. Census Bureau has highlighted statistics about the African American demographic that may change one’s views of the black population. The census information points out that black businesses are booming, blacks exercise their right to vote in large numbers and are attending college in record numbers.

This overview of the Asian-American population spotlights 2010 census data to illuminate the advances this minority group has made, challenges it faces and downright interesting facts about Asian Americans.

African-American cuisine is not limited to fried chicken, as the racial stereotype about the group suggests. Celebrate Black History Month by indulging in the foods that blacks eat today that have roots in West Africa, such as yams and okra.

The United States celebrates Irish American History Month in March. It’s a month that’s yet to enjoy the recognition of the much more popular St. Patrick’s Day. Celebrate Irish American Heritage Month by becoming more acquainted with the Irish American population.

Irish Americans are the second largest ethnic group in the United States, second only to German Americans. Yet many Americans don’t realize that March is home to Irish-American Heritage Month and the facts that make Irish Americans a unique demographic.

There’s a wide perception that the African-American community is more homophobic than other racial groups. However, prominent blacks such as President Barack Obama coming out in favor of same-sex marriage is changing public perceptions about how blacks feel about gay rights. Polls from 2012 also indicate that the African-American community is...