For some people, the most multiculturalism they get is in the fast-food line. That's why Paula Rothenberg, an author and professor, said people have trouble seeing the world through others' eyes.
Rothenberg, a published author and professor who hails from New Jersey, spoke Wednesday in the Bell Memorial Union as part of the university's Conversations on Diversity series. The discussion titled, "Beyond Tacos and Egg-Rolls," gave Rothenberg an opportunity to speak about multiculturalism and diversity.
Rothenberg began the lecture by categorizing what people see as multicultural, implying that tacos and egg-rolls are about the most culture that society is exposed to.
"If multiculturalism is just about tacos and egg-rolls, then it is pretty sad and inadequate," she said.
Rothenberg said that real multiculturalism is about seeing the world through someone else's eyes. People don't see anything that's not in front of their face, she said.
"So many of us see so little," she said. "We reduce reality to a narrow slice."
Rothenberg stressed that education is the key to understanding other cultures because it teaches people what is important. Education needs to begin with the teachers, and institutions need to have a diverse group of faculty to avoid bringing narrow minds to the table, she said.
"You notice what you have been taught to see," Rothenberg said. "Education should provide us with categories to understand other cultures."
Rothenberg said the more perspectives someone has on the world, the better equipped they will be to live in it. But multiculturalism is not as basic as it seems, she said. The interests of all the countries in the world are intertwined, she said.
"I don't know what it is like to walk in your shoes and you don't know what it is like to walk in mine," she said.
Rothenberg's personal example of people attempting to cater to multiculturalism was of a fashion show at a multicultural event put on by a group of predominantly white individuals. She said that white people get it wrong when they try to plan multicultural events.
"You ignore what you don't care or understand about," she said.
Rothenberg said that society has a system of hierarchy and privileges, and people think that is how it should be. It is hard for people to have cross-racial friendships in this country because of this system, she said.
"Only a white person could say that race doesn't matter," she said. "Our history is very whitewashed."
Rothenberg noted that as a society we have taken some steps toward becoming more multicultural, but we need to look outside of the bubble in order to truly understand other cultures.
"I like tacos, and I like egg-rolls, and I like to eat," she said. "But (multiculturalism) is more than that."
Jonathan Raber can be reached at
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