It’s More Than a Big Burrito

For those of you who don’t know, mundo translates to world in Spanish.  Sorry if I just insulted your ninth grade Spanish intelligence, but it’s important to understand the meaning of this blog before reading its posts.  If you haven’t already, check out the About section to learn more.

For my first blog entry, I want to discuss multiculturalism and its presence in today’s world–as well as its importance to future public relations  leaders (ahem, that might be you).

Picture this: two middle-aged, fully-covered women chatting in Arabic as they walk down a street lined with Muslim bookstores, a halal butcher shop, and Arab cuisine.  Now close your eyes and tell me what you see!  Well not really.  I’m not David Copperfield and this isn’t some magic trick trying to get you to touch the T.V. screen.

Anyway, think about it.  Could this be a colorful scene from the Middle East?  It could be, but it isn’t.  This scene of North African Muslims takes place in Paris, France.  In Jumana Farouky’s Feb. 15, 2007, Time article titled “The Many Faces of Europe,” the author addresses the continent’s reality of multiculturalism.

We’ve all had multicultural experiences.  Not to make the issue trite, but we can all relate to other cultures through food. Who doesn’t love Chipotle and its ‘almost authentic’ tasting burritos?  I can say this because I’ve been to Mexico (notice I didn’t reference Taco Bell’s authenticity).  But the importance of multiculturalism runs much deeper than food, and the taste lasts much longer. 

In fact, multiculturalism is not a new thing.  Farouky points out that “since the immigrant waves in the ’50s and ’60s, European nations have been looking for different ways to blend different people of different cultures into successful, peaceful societies.”  Unfortunately, forty years later, those perfect societies still aren’t reality. 

So what does this have to do with you, with me, with Anders Jacobsen in Norway?  A lot.  Norwegian blogger Jacobsen had his own multicultural lesson in July 2005 during a London terrorist attack , and he addresses it in his a blog entry titled “Multicultural London.”

“And there we were, a room in the office filled to the brim with people watching BBC News 24.  Brits, Europeans, Asians, Americans, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Christians, Atheists. United by the horror.”

Sounds faintly familiar, don’t you think?  This is the point I’m trying to make.  It doesn’t matter whether you live in Europe, Norway, India, or Anarctica.  Multiculturalism exists and it is not going away. 

So what’s this mean to the young PR professional?  According to Aron Kottolli, a management consultant out of Bangalore, India, it means being aware of diverse cultures, their values, and building a global team.  He discusses multicultural teams in his Oct. 24, 2006 blog.  “Building high performing teams involves identification, initiation, motivation, inspiration and consolidation of diverse team members.” 

In other words, as a PR professional, it is and will be extremely important to relate to and learn from other cultures, especially when creating campaigns and shaping messages for culturally diverse audiences.  

Recognize, however, that professionals must know their own culture and the importance of being an American.  Many other cultures are just as interested in us.