[FourPenguins]

As a white male, I'm sure my perspective here is limited, but I'll throw my two cents in all the same.

Ethnic and gender diversity is important in FIRST, as it is in any organization, school, or city. If people get used to the idea of only one kind of person, it's that much harder to accept different people later in life.

However, forcing diversity is just counter-productive. Those kids who lost their opportunities because someone "more diverse" was favored will resent the lost opportunity and maybe even the minority group. By the same token, all the kids on the team who see these "diverse" individuals get a freebie and then don't take it (by dropping out, not participating) will resent those team members, and may resent that minority group. We don't need girls, blacks, Hispanics, Jews, or Asians (or anyone else for that matter) to get the reputation of being quitters just because if they had been white and male and a quitter they wouldn't have made it on the team.

It's a tough spot, but I here's the solution I propose. It's building somewhat one Koko Ed's post. Don't support diversity by excluding people or by favoring people who don't care about your team or about robotics. Support diversity by reaching out to the communities you wish to attract. Start young with girlscouts to attract girls. If "diverse" in your district is a nice way to say "low-income" (I certainly hope it isn't), reach out to programs that cater to young people in low-income families.

In the end, FIRST is about inspiring and educating. I don't think it matters what one's color, sex, or creed is to be inspired, but society has deemed that it does matter, one way or another. Most minorities are underrepresented in technology industries and in institutes of higher learning. Inequality is a construct of our own fear and prejudice, both on the part of the majority groups and the minority groups. Only when minority and majority groups can agree on their own equality and similarity can we truly put all of this to rest.