Is this appropriate for work? (employee, company, hiring, bill)

[h0tmess]

Long story short: A lot of the black co-workers have been e-mailing several departments in regards to black history month. Now it's been all about having a, and I quote, "Black History Feast".

This seems awkward and it seems like a form of segregation.
I'm just curious as to what other people think?

But let me guess; I am racist because I think it's inappropriate. ::waits for it::

[yellowsnow]

So you're sitting on top of the powder keg and holding a lit match.

What WILL you do?

[Miss Crabcakes]

What would the "feast" entail? Just a meal for black people? That would be inappropriate? Or one for all? Are they willing to organize it?

I guess one problem that could arise from this is if you allow them to have this, other groups might want their own. Whose going to split the bill for this?

[Charles]

These types of diversity activities are there to make everyone feel inclusive and to show a company's customer (especially if the customer is the government) that the company is hiring all "voters".

These things aren't hurting anyone. Don't sweat the small stuff. Life is too short to worry about piddly corporate policies.

[Irishtom29]

Yeah, so what? Don't worry about it.

[h0tmess]

I agree. It's not a big deal, but there's something about it that seems a bit offensive.
I don't know. I mean, it's like there's a reason why we have "Holiday Parties" at work and not "Christmas Parties". I just think it falls along those lines.

[billiken]

I don't really see how this is offensive in the slightest way. My work place has 'diversity circles' that often put on events that are probably similar to this.

[kodaka]

My work place has 'diversity circles' that often put on events that are probably similar to this.

I think if it is a culture of diversity and the 'feast' is but one part of it, that is fine.

But a single event devoted to one aspect of the office culture is not diversity. Any more than if this feast were for white history or asian history or first nations history while ignoring all the rest.

Now if this is just a group of people in the office organizing their own event on their own time and their own dime, that is another matter.

[h0tmess]

Originally Posted by kodaka

I think if it is a culture of diversity and the 'feast' is but one part of it, that is fine.

But a single event devoted to one aspect of the office culture is not diversity. Any more than if this feast were for white history or asian history or first nations history while ignoring all the rest.

Now if this is just a group of people in the office organizing their own event on their own time and their own dime, that is another matter.

It's the latter. It's just a very large group---honestly it's (almost) every black employee here that is getting involved with this. They passed around a sheet to sign if you were going to bring anything in. One of my (white) co-workers said "Oh, no thank you" and he got dirty looks.. lol

[South Jersey Styx]

Originally Posted by h0tmess

It's the latter. It's just a very large group---honestly it's (almost) every black employee here that is getting involved with this. They passed around a sheet to sign if you were going to bring anything in. One of my (white) co-workers said "Oh, no thank you" and he got dirty looks.. lol

What's the big deal? A feast is celebrated by many, many cultures --simply a gathering of folks, everyone bringing food, and sitting as a group and celebrating a time together. It's for a celebration; holiday or special event or just enjoying the time together. It's a community thing.

I thought maybe you weren't invited but evidently the white folks are invited. So why is it an issue? I think it's great that they're getting together as a group; I've seen too many offices where people never get together for anything.