When it comes to the topic of diversity it can honestly go in so many directions. What I would say about Daralyse Lyons’ new book Demystifying Diversity: Embracing our Shared Humanity is that she strives to break it down to more than a US against THEM and see the why.
Through the interviews and her own personal observations we see how being singled out or labeled as impacted others. It also does something I wasn’t expecting. It turns the tables repeatedly on the reader, forcing us to ask what would we do or who would we be. In horrific events in history would be the one who was the oppressed or would we be the oppressor? Would we stand up for what is right or will be stay by? These questions are difficult but necessary if we are going to see things really move forward in a positive (and productive) way.
There’s another thing that Daralyse discusses in the book that is sure to step on some toes. I know it did mine. That being the words we use to categorize things, like being “good” for eating a salad or “bad” for not. The impact of what we say as well as what we do can impact the way people see themselves and feel about themselves.
Bottom line is we’re ALL a work in progress. This book challenges us to identify the work we ALL have to do and get about doing it.
Ann Dallman
Ann Dallman has won numerous awards for her writing and has presented her work at national conferences. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin- Madison (Journalism Education) and received her MA from Viterbo University. A former teacher, she has written for Marquette Monthly, Country, Farm and Ranch, Winds of Change, Chess Life, Salon Today, and American Salon magazines, and the Green Bay Press Gazette. She was the writer and organizing force behind the book Sam English: The Life, Times and Works of an Artist, 2009 PEAK International Award winner, and compiled/edited The
Hannahville Poets. She resides in Menominee, Michigan.
![Cady and the Birchbark Box [PB]](https://i0.wp.com/d2j6dbq0eux0bg.cloudfront.net/images/11280610/3091097214.jpg?w=900&ssl=1 "Cady and the Birchbark Box [PB]")
