I was born in 1958. The product of a white father and American Indian mother. When they got married, they moved in with my American Indian grandparents. While my multi-generational family never talked about it much, they struggled financially in my formative years. How did I know that? I was raised in a house that had no indoor plumbing. As a result, I learned how the use the bathroom in an outdoor toilet.
As I have grown older, I think about that outdoor toilet more than I did when I used it as a child. The experiences of the that outdoor privy frequently invade my mind as I struggle as a diversity and inclusion evangelist in a world that is a tribal
as ever. It is amazing how my journey to learn one of the body’s most vital functions was comparable to the difficulty in creating a world where differences are valued and embraced.
Darkness
The first lesson I learned about using an outhouse is when the sun goes down, the toilet can be a dark space. Even with a candle or a flashlight, such a setting is still a dark damp place.
Inclusion is a dark journey. It must be illumined by a mindset that constantly shines light on the darkness. Sometime the path is so dark you feel as if you are traveling by touch or faith, never knowing what the next step may yield.
Loneliness
Relieving yourself in a latrine particularly late at night, can be a solitary experience. I knew I had to walk this pathway by myself since my family could not accompany me each time Mother Nature called.
Inclusion can be lonely journey. Sometimes you must stand for something that sets you apart from the status quo and conventional wisdom. Very often, you must love the one you are with-yourself.
Prepare for the Unexpected
Going to the privy can bring surprises. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes it snows. It is cold, hot and humid. Very often, strange creatures come out like crickets, snakes and spiders.
Inclusion does not come with a script either. There will be highs and lows. You will encounter detractors and naysayers along the way. Stay true to your vision. For inclusion, it is not the destination but the journey. Enjoy it while you have the privilege of walking a road to a brighter tomorrow.
Keep the Essentials Handy
Using a bucket toilet requires constant vigilance to keep supplies replenished. Always leave enough toilet paper for the next person. Clean up any unforeseen messes. It also helps to have an umbrella and galoshes available in case you must wade through the mud to do your business.
Inclusion demands constant preparation and foresight as well. Today’s inclusion accomplishments can be yesterday’s wine. The inclusion horizon is persistently changing with volatility, constant change, deep uncertainty and endless ambiguity. It helps to have a network to lean on and an obsession to learn new ways of getting the job done.
Who would have thought that a basic bodily function would match the struggle for inclusion? Both endeavors chase relief. In the case of inclusion, relief from a world that seems to be hell bent on self-destruction. Here’s hoping that we will come to our senses. Because when it comes to more inclusive world just like going to the toilet, when you got to go, you got to go. Isn’t it time we start going for inclusion?
