Starting to Smell Like a Real Rose

The Rose Parade on New Year’s Day is an annual rite of passage of one year to the next, known to millions around the world for its elaborate floral displays and magnificent floats. This year the parade represents passage of another sort for its organizer, the Tournament of Roses.

The top leadership of the organization, the Executive Committee, is changing its complexion to better match the diversity of Pasadena and the region. The five new members added Tuesday to the eight-member committee--which consisted of eight white men--are two African Americans, an Asian American and a Latino. Two are women.

It was indeed unfortunate that it took pressure from community activists and from the City of Los Angeles before action was taken by the Executive Committee, whose membership had been based on seniority among the hundreds of Tournament of Roses members, most of them whites. Despite opening its membership, staff and outside contracts to women and minorities in recent years, the Executive Committee itself remained virtually unchanged. Because committee members become tournament presidents, the system shut out women and minorities from the top post. Now minorities and women presumably will be line for the tournament’s presidency early in the 21st Century.

The move should not be dismissed merely as political correctness. Though the Executive Committee’s learning process has been lengthy--too long for many--the Tournament of Roses’ action ultimately will better serve the entire Southern California community.