If Only We Were Colorblind...

I was originally going to write about the issue of trust, as addressed by Cross in The Power of Social Networking. I changed my mind.

A number of students raised some very interesting points in class yesterday. Someone mentioned the effects of race on an individual's social network. My mind immediately went to a book that I had read a few years back. Why are all the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafateria?, was an eye-opening book about why different ethnic groups seem to ally together, and why they seem to always be seen together in the cafaterias of the world (okay, at least here in the U.S...LOL). Beverly Tatum used school as the primary example in her book, but the concept can definately stretch to the university and corporate levels.

I think it's interesting that even within our own Social Networking Class that the students of different ethnicities and/or fraternities and sororities tend to almost exclusively socialize with one another-- & they always sit with one another--myself included. Beverly Tatum says that these types of "affinity groups" are positive and that they help to facilitate "identity exploration." BUT, she also says that it is important to prepare our youth for leadership in the 21st century, and this includes education on race and education on how to cross racial boundaries.

...A perfect segway back to the topic of our reading...

Social Networking in the workplace is affected by a number of things. While Cross touched on trust and a few other technical aspects of working relationships, it is important to remember the realities of other barriers to social networking and try to address those as well. Whether or not we admit it, everyone has prejudices. ace, class, gender, physical handicap, and age are all factors that affect the networking process. Knowing this is half the battle....where you go from there is all up to you. I think it's more a matter of willingness to leave your comfort zone than anything else.

I am eager to see who sits in a differnt place next time we meet!!!