Robin's last post was a mouthful.  But it was good to see an
amplification of her initial comments.  Gosh, I wish there were more
museums like hers in this world.  I'm still rather puzzled as to why only
about a dozen people responded on a list which boasts 1,400 plus?  Maybe the
topic is too foreign and people aren't used to healthy discourse?  I also
know certain people refrain from commenting because they don't what
exactly to say, talking about racial inequalities is somewhat
uncomfortable and revealing.  Also some people run the risk of putting
their foot in their mouths.  But thank you to all fearless Museum-L
members who have responded!

I appreciated the comments from Mr./Ms. Tongariki.  Tongariki said that:

"The docents were mostly wealthy recently retired new-comers
to the area.  The volunteers were mostly middle-class adults from the US
community.  The interns were white college students from the mid-west.
The community service workers were mostly Hispanic youths from both sides
of the border."  Unfortunately this reflects a certain reality common of
museums today.

Jose Ortiz said, "I feel that it would be more useful to address these
issues rather than just talk about what is wrong....in other words let's
fix it."  How do we begin to "fix it" collectively and proactively?

Have organizations and individuals interested in this discussion ever
assembled and created both short term and long term plans to address the
issue?  Does the annual AAM provide for such a luxury?

Henry B. Crawford in this ovation e-mail mentioned the need for
OUTREACH.  What kind of outreach does Mr. Crawford engage in to invite
Raza into his museum?  What programs are in place?  How can we learn from
communities like Lubbock?

And many pointed to the impressive initiatives of the Smithsonian, which
are great.  But where are the Getty people and the other wealthy centers
who have created similar programs?  Why are they abscent from this
discussion?

Does anyone know how Canadian museums respond to ethnic representation
for administrative and curatorial positions?  What are the challenges there?
I think we can safely think global.

Elena Piquer Mayberry, Intern Services Coordinator mentioned that the
Smithsonian has been working on the problems addressed in "Willful
Neglect: the Smithsonian and US Latinos". She added that Latino
underepresentaion affects all of us is a very serious problem everywhere
and needs to be identified, acknowledged and remedied.

How do we start?  Anyone have any ideas?

Miguel