Nourishment and Knowledge: How Adding Missing Ingredients to a Melting Pot Culture is Not Racist
Food and education, two universal languages that have the power to unite us. Each one is a form of nourishment, feeding our bodies and our minds. So, how can an initiative aimed at promoting diversity and inclusion within these two vital arenas be mislabelled as 'racist'? This is a claim that some ill-informed critics would like us to believe when referring to the HoteliersGuild's initiatives, BeyondCuisine and the SIRIUSACADEMYAWARD scholarship campaign.
A ‘Sirius’ comment from a critic: “THAT IS QUITE TERRIBLE! WE ARE AGAINST ANY RACISM OR SEXISM. IF SOMEONE IS FAVOURED BECAUSE OF THEIR COLOUR OF SKIN OR GENDER, WE FIND THAT RATHER NEGATIVE. IF SOMONE IS A GREAT COOK AND THEREFOR RECEIVES SUPPORT, WE THINK THAT’S GOOD.”
While we are immensely grateful for the robust encouragement and support our initiatives receive from our global membership and followers, we equally take 'Sirius' comments such as the one presented here with utmost seriousness and consideration. The sentiment expressed encapsulates a pivotal aspect of our mission - to champion merit and talent, irrespective of race or gender, and it mirrors our staunch opposition to any form of discrimination in our sector.
Therefore, I hereby take the liberty of replying virtually to the person (gender unknown and irrelevant), whom I do not know personally:
Subject: Re: Your Inquiry About BeyondCuisine InitiativeDear esteemed Critic,
Thank you for expressing your views about the BeyondCuisine initiative.
While it would typically be deeply unsettling to read an insinuation of racism, I believe your perspective stems from an incomplete understanding of our mission. This understanding, I perceive, could be improved by adhering more closely to the journalistic duty of thoroughly researching a subject before forming and expressing an opinion. That being said, I welcome this opportunity to provide further insight and clarification.
At the core of our organization's values, as explicitly outlined in our Code of Conduct, is the commitment to fostering inclusivity and rejecting all forms of discrimination – be it on the grounds of race, gender, or sexual orientation. Our work within the hospitality industry continually upholds these principles, creating spaces where diversity is celebrated and discrimination has no place.
Our mission with the SiriusAcademyAwardCampaign and the BeyondCuisine initiative, particularly, is aimed at promoting culinary diversity, equality, and providing opportunities to all those who are underrepresented in the culinary industry, regardless of their background. This extends to the SiriusAcademyAwardCampaign, where we actively reach out to, and involve, other underprivileged minorities within our industry.
The ultimate vision for BeyondCuisine is to create an inclusive platform that recognizes, nurtures, and celebrates talent, irrespective of its origin. We firmly stand by the belief that talent is universal and everyone, regardless of where they come from, deserves a fair chance to excel.
In light of the above, I request that your potential coverage of our initiative more accurately reflects our commitment to diversity and inclusivity. If you require any additional information about the BeyondCuisine initiative or the SiriusAcademyAwardCampaign, or if you wish to interview any of our participants or team members, we would be more than happy to facilitate that. In the meantime, may I encourage you to view and listen to some of the feedback from students already enrolled in scholarships funded by the HoteliersGuild on our YouTube series, called “VoicesOfAfrica”.
Best regards!
Frank M. Pfaller | Founder President of HoteliersGuild
More on this topic below and we welcome feedback!
…another MUST READ that goes well Beyond Cuisine…BRAVA VIVIANA!
