Many of our Hispanic brothers and sisters here in Southern Indiana are afraid to speak about how they view life in America following President Donald Trump’ s deportation push. This magazine is sadly lacking insight into their situation because of their fear of speaking with us.
Even sponsors who once proudly advertised in Diversity Magazine are afraid to have their name associated with anything that may be akin to diversity, equity and inclusion.
It’ s not hard to understand how we got here. Our country has a racist history. It’ s in our roots. From slavery to Jim Crow, some of the most inhumane acts ever committed in our world’ s history were carried out in the United States of America. And they were done so out of hatred, racism and segregation.
Though progress has been made, we’ re slipping back into a culture that despises
while you still can
differences. We’ re white-washing history, attacking immigrants and banning educators from teaching truth.
Southern Indiana has become more open to different cultures, but that has not been our past. Some still view us as a white-flight community where people move to so they can avoid Louisville. We are still far behind when it comes to equitable representation among our elected officials. And right in the middle of Jeffersonville, immigrants detained by ICE are sleeping tonight inside the Clark County Jail with little information provided about their charges other than they presumably entered our country illegally.
We’ ve seen this play out in the past. From our Civil War to Nazi Germany, history shows us what happens when hatred rules the day. That’ s why it’ s so disheartening to see so many so afraid to speak out against racism, or to speak in favor of inclusion.
Diversity makes our world a better place. Our country was built by immigrants. But our melting pot is turning into a bitter pill that we should never swallow.
We shouldn’ t’ be afraid of diversity, but we should fear those who are hellbent on dividing us and overlooking how the past affects our current lives. But fear can only last so long – taking a stand is the best way to stand up to bullies.
July | August 2025 DIVERSITY 5