Derald Wing Sue believes well-intentioned individuals are the people who perpetuate racism the most.

“It is not the overt racists, not the skinheads or the Klansmen that does the most damage,” the Columbia University psychology and education professor said. “It is someone who means well, but cannot see how biased and bigoted they are.”

Sue was one of three speakers at the sixth annual diversity forum Tuesday night in Warriner Hall’s Platcha Auditorium.

The Office of Institutional Diversity-sponsored forum, “Cultural Competency: Making the Invisible, Visible,” also featured Terence Joiner, a University of Michigan clinical assistant professor and Joanne DeMark, leadership development specialist at Western Washington University.

Intern Dean of the College of Health Professions Thomas Masterson Jr. said it was an honor to have Sue on campus.

“He has been described as quote, ‘the most influential multicultural scholar in the United States,’” he said.

Sue discussed cultural competency in terms of “micro-aggressions,” described by Sue and other experts as intentional or unintentional “brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral or environmental indignities” toward people of color.

Most of the time these actions are unconscious, he said.

“Being white is not a race, but whiteness carries benefits the individual enjoys, often without knowing it,” Sue said.

DeMark said discrimination is learned.

“They are values we get from our youth,” she said. “None of us were born wanting to hate anyone.”

Joiner said there is a possibility for change and for things to get better.

“Culture is fluid. It changes with time, experience and life circumstances,” he said. “We need to learn to adjust to other cultures, too often we let stereotypes hinder us in that progression.”

The problem, Sue said, is that values and stereotypes are ingrained at an early age.

“We’re trying to deal with people who have experienced a flawed system,” he said.

All three agreed teaching children about other cultures and about acceptance is vital to changing the status quo.

Denise Green, associate vice president of institutional diversity, said the forum was part of University President Michael Rao’s diversity charges.

“We’re here to engage and increase our knowledge of a very important topic,” she said.

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