from my perspective…
Diversity is the “Change” We See in the 2008 Election By Linda Jimenez
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Chief Diversity Officer & Staff Vice President—Diversity Leadership WellPoint, Inc.
On Tuesday, February 19, in my home state of Texas, on the first day of early voting, election officials across the state reported a record turnout. In just one day in the state’s 15 most populous counties, some 65,000 plus voters went to grocery stores and bank lobbies, recreation centers, and libraries to vote. One thousand students of Prairie View A&M, a historically black college/university in a rural area west of Houston, marched seven miles to the nearest early voting stations. In my perspective, the diversity in this year’s election process is startling and forms the framework for discussions, debates, and dialogue on gender, race, age, language, and media advertising. “Change” is the big buzz word in this campaign from both Democrats and Republicans. In November, we have the opportunity to embark on a national evolution of change simply through our focus on diversity. We could elect the first female President, or the first black President, or the second President from the same marital family, or a 70+ year-old President who’s not afraid to buck the old guard of his political party. As a diversity practitioner, I am thrilled to see so many people engaged in the political process, and I am even more excited about the diversity dynamics unfolding during this period. It is encouraging to have the dialogue and debate around why we support our respective candidates. As a woman, I’ve asked myself and others, “Is a vote for Hillary Clinton a vote because she is a woman and the first female to be elected President, or because we truly believe she is the better candidate?” As a minority, I’ve asked myself and others, “Is a vote for Barack Obama a vote because he is black and the first minority to be elected President, or because we truly believe he is the better candidate?” As a baby boomer, I’ve asked myself and others, “Is a vote for John McCain a vote because of my perception that with his age comes wisdom and experience, or because we believe he is the voice of change in the Republican party?” 10
Pro f i les i n D i ve rsit y Journal
march/april 2008
As an American, I’ve asked myself and others, “Is this country ready for a change that challenges a traditionally white power structure?” Diversity and election mania is gripping the entire country, and that’s good. We have broken down silos and barriers to have political discussions taking place on television, talk radio, in blogs, on YouTube, and even on CraigsList. Some 7.6 million viewers tuned in to the CNN debate between Obama and Clinton, and that doesn’t include an unaccounted Latino audience who listened to the debate on Spanish-language Univision. There is even diversity within “Camelot” with Caroline Kennedy and Ted Kennedy and Maria Shriver supporting Barack Obama, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. supporting Hillary Clinton. When, I’ve wondered, was the last time we were all so driven to be involved in this process, whether through listening and watching the debates, or by being sponges for gathering any and all information about our candidate and the others in the competition? U.S. elections grab attention around the world in ways that no other elections do, because the outcome of the race to lead the last economic and military superpower could have consequences everywhere. The connection is even more pronounced in Mexico, where the government estimates that fully half of the population has family in the United States. And many of the issues being debated by the candidates—immigration, NAFTA, and a war in Iraq that Mexico was asked to support—are important concerns for the Mexican people. Our political future is ripe with possibilities. Our nation stands on the precipice of greatness. It will be the beginning of the end and the start of something new. And it will involve multigenerational, racial, and gender differences and most importantly, courage. Isn’t that what diversity is all about?
PDJ
Linda Jimenez is a native of San Antonio, Texas, and attended the University of Texas at Austin where she received her BA with honors. She is also a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and has spent 20 years specializing in labor and employment law.