1. DIVERSITY ISSUES
AND
AFRICAN-AMERICAN
MEN
Presented by:
Janine M. Rupp

2. Eritrea-East Africa
• Population: 6,330,303
• Life Expectancy: 63.51 years
• Monetary Unit: Nakfa
• Languages: English, Arabic,
Tigrinya
• Religions: Muslim, Coptic
Christian, Roman Catholic,
Protestant
• Foods: Ethiopian
• Customs: Primarily Christian,
same holidays observed,
Christmas, etc..

3. GEBRU
Core Values:
• Strong work ethics
• Community raises children
• Parents take responsibility for
actions of children
• Children respect their elders
• Do not borrow and not repay
debts
• Men should be strong role
models in their children’s lives
Bias Gebru Faces:
• Instant judgement of his accent
• Judgement of his appearance:
Often mistaken for Muslim
Major Issues of Importance:
• Family stability
• Maintaining personal integrity
• Social awareness of homeless
community
 Arrived in the US in 1988
 Native country: Eritrea
 Age 55
 Religion: Christian
 Customs: Traditional
Christian
 Foods: Ethiopian
 Employment: Volunteer
for non-profit homeless
organization

4. CEDRIC
Key Values:
• Men should be strong role
models
• Strong belief in God
• Stand up for beliefs even when
they are not popular with
others
• Strong work ethics
• Education is very important
• Raise children with moral
values
Stereotypes he experiences:
• African-Americans have to
have 3 to 4x the qualifications
as their Caucasian counter
parts for same employment
• Superior attitude of Caucasian
community
 Louisiana: home state
 Age: 47
 Religion: Christian
 Customs: Christian
 Foods: Soul food
 Married with one grown
son
 Employment: Volunteer for
homeless organization
 Major issues of importance:
Support for homeless
community in Seattle, WA

5. THE WORK PLACE
• Encourage viewpoints,
suggestions to improve
workplace
• Do not pass up prospective
employees based on skin color,
accent, nationality
• Establish affinity groups:
networking groups that
provide forums for employees
to gather socially
• Superiors should provide
formal/informal mentoring
• Conduct unconscious bias
training for all employees
• All selection panelists/officials
should receive comprehensive
training on unconscious bias
• Conduct interactive “role
playing” exercises
Ways to make a work
setting more positive,
responsive, and inclusive
to the African-American
male community:

6. Sources of Information for this Presentation:
 Ethno med
 Entrean Cultural Profile: Authors: Dorothy
Cooper and Aisling Underwood
 EEOC African/American Workgroup report
Interviews:
 Cedric
 Gebru