The same can be said of courses on diversity at the college level. Participants view a college education as a route to a more secure economic future. Although many people recognize the importance of diversity education, fewer support diversity requirements-in part, because some people tend to oppose requirements of any kind. The focus groups in Seattle and Philadelphia were remarkably consistent. Most expect that in twenty years their world will be more diverse than it is today.
Few people think our society is doing a good job of preparing for the future.
When asked whether diversity should be incorporated into studies on science, world history, literature, American history, and the arts, two-thirds of participants in a focus group of white Seattle residents agreed. In Philadelphia, four in ten participants in a white focus group and seven in ten participants in a mixed-race focus group agreed. By overwhelming margins, participants said learning about diversity brings people together. Overall, participants recognize that our society is becoming more diverse and our economy is increasingly influenced by global factors. Most see this growing diversity and economic interdependence as a fact, rather than a problem.