Have you ever been treated differently than expected, for good or bad, because of your color, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, heritage, or other identifying characteristics? I doubt that anyone could answer no to this question.

The 2004 issue of Diversity Exchange featured two articles by authors that wrote about their experiences with prejudice and discrimination. Gregory Williams, president of The City College of New York and author of Life on the Color Line: The True Story of a White Boy Who Discovered He Was Black, wrote about having a white mother and black father and the experience of living as a white child until he was 10 years old. It was then that he, his older brother, and father returned to their roots in the projects in Indiana, and he resumed his life as a black child in a community, state, and nation full of discrimination and social injustice.

The other article was written by Marvin Dunn, associate professor and former chair of psychology at Florida International University. In his article reviewing the fiftieth anniversary of the Brown vs. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court decision, Dunn discussed his personal experience with discrimination when he left the Navy and applied to a doctoral program at the University of Florida and was rejected because of his race.

These two articles created an interest in our hearing more from individuals who have been affected either positively or negatively in their personal or professional lives because of personal identifying characteristics. Many personal stories could be told, and perhaps by hearing and reading these reflections, we can learn how we may inadvertently, and even overtly, treat individuals badly because of stereotypes we possess. Articles featured in this issue are from Glenda “Rusty” Belote, former associate dean of Undergraduate Education at Florida International University, Bennie Osborne, director of Equal Opportunity Programs, also at Florida International University, and FIU Honors College student, Atena Yumus.

Belote and Osborne have contributed years of diligent and dedicated work in promoting the Diversity Initiative at FIU. Through their efforts in encouraging the appreciation of differences, the university has become a better institution. Belote, who retired from the university this year, served on the editorial board of Diversity Exchange since 2000. Her service to this publication, the Diversity Initiative, and to the university will be missed. We wish her well in all her future endeavors.

Larry W. Lunsford, Ph.D.
Managing Editor