I feel this is a dialogue that ought not to end anytime soon.

As one born in upstate New York, the biggest handicap I'm experiencing in my
present position is my lack of understanding (appreciation might be a better
word) for the Southern Cause 145 years ago.   I know the history, but I
don't sense and never will, the emotional reflexes of those whose forebears
fought for a cause "they" saw as noble and inspired by the Almighty.  So it
is that I am unable to espouse "the cause" as some wish I would do.

And though I've learned to create long overdue change in Southern museums
ever so slowly (holding in check my Yankee impatience), there is always the
price we pay for not being "of the bonds of the true South," as one
resigning Board member wrote some years ago.

In working with the power people in museums (the ones usually out there
behind the scenes) I've had to put my conscience in my back pocket in order
to listen through exasperated slurs aimed at one minority or another --
exasperated because the power people know they're losing it.

These power people are not unique to the South by any means.  In doing MAP
assessments, I've found they are most everywhere.  Essentially, they find
some way to control.

To get to the point, I fully agree with Ms. Moore as quoted below, based
100% on experience in several settings:


>Yes, but given a choice between a person of that cultural background and
>one who is not, all else being equal, the person of that culture will
>get the job.  You may have wanted to say that nobody should
>automatically be DISqualified based on LACK of the desired cultural
>background:  that would be discriminatory.  A job description would
>NEVER state outright that the successful candidate would be Jewish,
>African-American, Latino or whatever.

>Julia Moore
>Director of Exhibitions and Artist Services
>Indianapolis Art Center