Things to never say to a Black coworker:

It might seem as though you are giving a compliment when you tell a Black acquaintance, “You are so articulate.” But what they hear is, “You are the exception to most Black people.” This is unfortunate, especially if you are just as likely to tell a White associate they he or she is articulate. Perhaps it’s best to find another way of complimenting the individual, such as, “Excellent presentation.” Also strictly avoid, “You don’t sound Black over the phone.”

The whole thing is about making assumptions. If you see a Black woman with long, flowing, blond hair you might be tempted to ask “Is that your real hair.” Not all Black people have curley black hair. Most do, many do not. Best to just avoid the subject.

Never say ‘You people.’ Such as, “You people are so spiritual.” If I were a Black person I might say, “And yours are not?”

These comments are generally meant in a good light, but unfortunately can cause bad feelings. I guess it’s just a matter of putting yourself in the other person’s shoes.

Just some interesting factoids. In 1976, 27 % of women were self-employed. Today it’s 38 %.

Women are 51 % of the population, 48 % of the workforce. The number of women-owned businesses grew to 42.3 % between 1997 and 2006 - twice the national average.

In 1987 Congress proclaimed March as National Women’s Month.

Next blog - Ten things never to say to a Black Coworker.

DiversityInc. Magazine recently announced its list of the top 50 companies for diversity, based on CEO Committment, Human Capital, Supplier Diversity and Corporate and Organization Communications. Johnson & Johnson and AT&T were the top two on the list. Coca-Cola and Pepsi made the list as did Verizon, IBM, Procter & Gamble, American Express, Colgate-Palmolive, Ford Motor, Wells Fargo, AARP, Toyota and General Mills.

March 21 is declared the “International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination,” by the United Nations. Declaring it doesn’t make it so, unfortunately. But we’re doing our part in Northeast SD.

It’s also Harmony Day in Australia. Wouldn’t it be funny if that meant that everyone has to sing in harmony and bad singers had to be quiet? ‘Course, it doesn’t mean that. It’s about bringing people together to celebrate Australia’s community harmony, participation and cultural diversity. They could do all that AND require that everyone sings in harmony.

The weather is AMAZING. Muddy, but nice. Quick, get out there and enjoy it before the bugs hatch.

FINALLY we are able to have the grand opening of the Diversity Regional Outreach Center. Hope the public will come to the second floor of the ARCC on March 25 from 2 to 6 p.m. to visit, look around and just get to know us.

There is an exhibit on display at the Presentation College Library called “Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement.” I plan to take a look - it will be there until April 17. The library is on the first floor of the main campus building and is, best of all, free.

We’re looking for volunteers to teach English language classes one evening a week. Will be pretty basic and we will provide the manuals, etc. One need not be able to speak a Foreign language. E-mail me at diverse@nvc.net if you have the skills and time.

Apologies for the lack of blog - I was trapped outside of South Dakota by baaaaad weather. Trying to remember that March comes in like and Lion and goes out like a Lamb.

There will be more changes to the web site in the near future - the poll question is going away and will be replaced by a self-assessment tool. This short assessment will be something businesses can use to determine in what areas of diversity acuity they are weak and strong. It will be a confidential assessment, that is, only the person taking it will measure the results.

Today is Girl Scout Day in the US and Canada. Formed by Juliette Gordon Low from Savanna, Georga in 1912, she took 18 girls and started having meetings with the goal of bringing girls out of islated home environments and into community service and the open air. They hiked, went on camping trips, learned how to tell time by the stars and studied first aid. The Girl Scouts have come a long way since then.

March is Women’s History Month in the United States and the U.K. Women on all continents, often divided by national boundaries and by ethnic, linguistic, clutural, economic and political differences come together to celebrate advances in the struggle for equality and peace.

Here’s another addition to things you probably knew but I didn’t: in the U.S. women fought for and won the right to vote in 1920. In the U.K. women did not get the right to vote until 1928.

In Canada, Women’s History Month is celebrated in October.