Lessons and Stories from a Barbershop (hers)

Not a strand of hair was cut in the Milwaukee barbershop I sat in this past Saturday night. Instead of scissors and shampoo, the shop was filled with storytellers standing in front of a lone mic perched in front of two chairs, two mirrors, and millions of hair product.

I was at an Ex Fabula storytelling event, bringing together local citizens to share their stories of barbershops, the local neighborhood, or both. Interspersed throughout were tales from historian John Gurda on the racial razor this shop teetered upon since before the Civil War.

In 2011, Milwaukee was ranked the #1 most segregated urban area in the U.S."Milwaukee…has among the highest rates of racial inequality across a whole range of indicators: black-white joblessness, black-white poverty and black-white ownership of businesses," says Marc Levine, professor of history and economic development at the UW - Milwaukee.

Given this backdrop, I was stunned at the remarkable amount of diversity around me. African-Americans, Caucasians, and Hispanics nervously took to the stage and shared stories that both warmed and broke your heart.

Demographic diversity -- differences in race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and age -- are a boon to personal happiness and social justice. Businesses discovered long ago that geographic diversity leads to creative exchange and production. America discovered long ago that millions of immigrants mixing together leads to stronger communities and greater freedom.

It was 10 years ago that America learned that lesson once again. In the wake of one of the most devastating attacks on American soil, citizens of all backgrounds banded together to help each other -- and the country -- piece itself back together. Remembering this sense of national unity and empathy may help us steer away from the dangerous "us vs. them" mentality of fear-based social exclusivity that plagues the development of strong communities in modern America.

Surrounded by the diversity America still stands for, thoughts of two towers that once stood, and the men and women standing at the mic in front of me, I was filled with gratitude for the chance I've been given with Hapacus to fill the world with unity, community, and happiness.