I am definitely aware of the fact that I am one of few white African and African-American Studies majors at the University of Oklahoma. As I walked into my African-American Women’s class, I was acutely aware of the fact that I was one of two white females in the entire class. In my Introduction to African-American Studies class, it was pointed out that I was the only Caucasian sitting on one side of the lecture hall. It was even more amazing to some that I seemed comfortable in my surroundings.
While I find myself interestingly enough in the "minority," this unique experience has afforded me the opportunity to sit in classes and work in corporate environments where dialogue is encouraged and tough topics are explored with honesty and emotion. Personal interaction with people from other cultures, countries, races, backgrounds and religions has enabled me to grow into a much more understanding and empathetic person. As a result of these interactions and having been raised in a family that taught respect and consideration for others, no matter what their color or creed, I wholeheartedly embrace the world with a broader perspective. I have learned from parents, peers, professors and employers that fullness of life is experienced at its highest level when you open your world to others who are not necessarily just like you.
Race is a social construction that each and every individual embodies. However, more often than not, only certain groups, typically in the minority, are more intensely conscious of the fact that their race has come to define them in a classically unmentionable manner. Some people may not understand why I am pursuing African and African-American Studies and Public Relations degrees. However, this journey makes perfect sense to me. I am passionate about understanding people on a deeper level. I am sensitive to the feelings, opinions, actions, and reactions that surround me. I want diversity to be a reality, not a Utopian ideal. I realize I live in a fast-paced, constantly changing world full of different people with divergent backgrounds, thought-processes, feelings, and experiences. This world is also full of stereotypes and generalizations that are harmful and damaging to the many people they try to compartmentalize.
I have come to realize that the world of sports in which I choose to work is composed of players from every history and every color. The golf industry should be concerned with diversity because it is in a position in which golfers from across the world are bringing to the table unparalleled talent, ability, drive, and passion for the game.
We need not judge based on color or accent, but rather, their score and more importantly, the way they play the game. A love and passion for a game based on honesty and integrity transcends the outer shell and reveals the deeper aspects of a person’s identity. In addition, in a sport I have grown up around and come to adore, some of the greatest players are of assorted ethnic and racial backgrounds.
Since 1947, racial borders were broken in the game of baseball and it is undeniable that diversity has allowed the sport to grow and prosper. A little under half of the entire percentage of major league baseball players are Black, Latino, or Asian. Also, the number of minority general managers is on the rise. 
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