to dispel the myth that diversity-related problems will disappear if they are
ignored. In the process of managing diversity, an important theme, one
many employers have difficulty identifying with and finding comfort in, is
the notion that we are people.

The world is made up of people, but the people of the world forget this. It is hard
to believe that, like ourselves, other people are born of women, reared by parents,
teased by brothers, . . . consoled by wives, . . . flattered by grandchildren, and
buried by parsons and priests with the blessing of the church and the tears of those
left behind. ( Menninger, 1942, p. 114)

The collective attempt of organizational leaders to understand and opti-
mally utilize their diverse workforce is a classical study in frustration.
Within most organizations, laughter and incessant chatter frequently hide
serious diversity-related problems. In many instances, those problems fes-
ter like a cancerous sore and erupt into personnel grievances.

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