April is Celebrate Diversity Month: Why it Matters
April marks Celebrate Diversity Month, which honors all types of diversity around us. Diversity encompasses a wide range of attributes, from race, ethnicity, and gender, to socioeconomic background, and ability. All these attributes represent different parts of our identities that make us unique and should always be celebrated. Celebrate Diversity Month was initiated in 2004 to recognize and understand differences while honoring the common essence of humanity. A 2020 Glassdoor survey found that 76% of employees and job seekers report that a diverse workforce is an important factor when evaluating job offers.
This month’s theme is a great opportunity to explore different cultures, perspectives, and hobbies. By appreciating the differences and similarities among us, we can build a tolerant, more inclusive world that welcomes all, regardless of who they are or where they come from.
Below, you’ll find various literature, movies, podcasts, and activities to honor Celebrate Diversity Month.
Read
“Bud, Not Buddy,” by Christopher Paul Curtis - The story of a young Black boy's search for the father he has never met. Following clues from the few possessions he carries that were his momma's, Bud escapes from a difficult life in Flint to Grand Rapids, Michigan to find his father.
“The Girl With The Louding Voice,” by Abi Daré - The story of a teenage Nigerian girl called Adunni who becomes a maid and struggles with many things growing up, including her limited education, poverty, and her inability to speak up for herself.
“The Gender Games: The Problem with Men and Women, from Someone Who Has Been Both,” by Juno Dawson - A frank, witty, and powerful manifesto for a world in which everyone can truly be themselves.
“The Death of Vivek Oji,” by Akwaeke Emezi - A powerful and captivating novel that explores identity and community, family, and friendship.
“The Beauty of Your Face,” by Sahar Mustafah - A Palestinian American woman wrestles with faith, loss, and identity before coming face-to-face with a school shooter.
Watch
Moana (2016) - Action-filled voyage of Moana, the daughter of a Polynesian chief, as she sails across the ocean. Moana learns powerful lessons along the way as she discovers her own identity. This movie showcases a strong female lead from the Pacific Islands, a diverse setting that isn’t represented in many films.
Hidden Figures (2016) - Based on the incredible true story of three female mathematicians who dealt with many challenges around race and gender as they became an important part of NASA and the U.S. space program.
The Holdovers (2023) - A curmudgeonly instructor at a New England prep school remains on campus during Christmas break to babysit a handful of students with nowhere to go. He soon forms an unlikely bond with a brainy but damaged troublemaker, and with the school's head cook, a woman who just lost a son in the Vietnam War.
Polite Society (2023) - Martial artist-in-training Ria Khan believes she must save her older sister Lena from her impending marriage. After enlisting the help of her friends, Ria attempts to pull off the most ambitious of all wedding heists in the name of independence and sisterhood.
KOKOMO CITY (2023) - Documentary following four Black transgender sex workers, who break down the walls of their profession. Holding nothing back, the film vibrates with energy, sex, challenge, and hard-earned wisdom.
Listen
Untapped - Regularly features movers and shakers in the diversity and inclusion space who talk about ways to make the workplace more equitable for the untapped talent that may have been overlooked in the past.
Code Switch - Takes a look at how intersectionality impacts every area of people’s lives, from the home to the workplace and everywhere in between. Listen for raw discussions about race and the tough questions that need to be addressed to create an equitable society.
Women at Work - Discusses various challenges women face in the workplace. Topics discussed include the wage gap, gender discrimination, productivity, and dealing with workplace stress.
Diversity Deep Dive - Strives to disrupt the way workplaces think about diversity and inclusion by discussing strategies for tackling stereotypes and biases.
Diversity Beyond the Checkbox - D&I leaders discuss what diversity means to them and the steps they take to go beyond the checkbox to grow their organizations.
Act
Talk to someone from a different culture about the customs, traditions, values, and practices they observe—and share yours with them.
Explore local ethnic restaurants and markets to sample food from a different culture.
Expand your knowledge through online courses and learning opportunities.
Check out a cultural art exhibit, performance, or activity at your area's cultural or heritage center.
Financially support, volunteer at, or arrange a volunteer event for a nonprofit organization that works to lessen multicultural issues or supports disadvantaged ethnic communities.