Cultural Diversity in the U.S - Assignment Example

Almost all societies of the world observe stratification on the foundations of race, ethnicity, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, occupation, social status and financial position. Among all these distinctions, religious, racial and ethnic discriminations are most powerful ones, and segregate even the ultra modern cultures of the globe into different groups and communities. The same is the case with the United States, which is viewed as the amalgamation of several sub-cultures, for multiple races and ethnic groups live together in the US society. Apparently the country offers equal human rights to all communities without imposing any segregated laws on the American subjects, yet discrimination could be found at all scales including educational, financial, religious, economic, cultural, political and democratic institutions. Though Supreme Court banned de jure segregation in schools and educational institutions in 1954 in the famous case Brown v Board of Education and nullified its own verdict of 1896 issued in Plessey v Ferguson regarding segregation at schools, yet practically the US society observes unflinching segregation everywhere. It is why the country again returning towards fast resegregation process gradually at school level. The main reason for this segregation is sheer feelings of abhorrence in the minds of the white majority for other races. The white Anglo Saxon population (WASP) does not appear to be ready to bestow equal opportunity of growth and development upon the individuals belonging to other racial groups. It is particularly the case with the African American Blacks, who have been the targets of their hatred and detestation since ever. They were not allowed to even sit in buses and other public places alongside the white people, and even had to vacant their seats at buses provided any white person entered in a bus with no seat to sit in. (Parks, 1992: 11). The African American students used to seek education at segregated schools separate from the whites. However, circumstances took drastic turn and all races and ethnic groups witnessed freedom, justice and equality in the USA. The door of opportunities looked wide open for all and sundry in the country, and the Black could study, play, work, travel and dine with the white people in the aftermath of the famous Harlem Renaissance Movement launched by the African American writers and poets of 19th and 20th centuries. The motive behind these writers was not mere expressing of their grief and sufferings; rather, the major objective behind those efforts was the realization of their miseries and pathetic condition through which their fellow beings had been undergoing the same pathetic state of affairs. It was the matter of gratification and rejoice for the African Americans that they had been allowed to get admission in the schools meant for the whites in past. However, their enthusiasm underwent grave setback as soon as they got the opportunity of studying in the mixed schools. The white teachers displayed prejudiced behavior in the classroom towards them, and they also experienced bias attitude from majority of classmates and admin members. In American desegregated schools, separate water coolers, sitting benches and washrooms had been marked and reserved for the black students. In addition, there were separate enquiry windows for the students and their parents and every type of discrimination used to be displayed with the blacks. “Racist institutions are controlled by white teachers, who resist the access of non-white to power and privilege.” (Fredrickson, 1981: 240) The black students had to make very hard efforts in obtaining good grades and marks in studies, and position in the playground. However, whenever they defeated the white students either in the classroom or at the playground, they had to face bitter consequences for such heinous crimes. “Sociologist Harry Edwards agrees that the self-fulfilling prophecy of innate black athletic superiority can have damaging consequences. Edwards points out that although this perception of athletic prowess may channel many African Americans into sports, only about 2,500 of them at best currently make a living in professional sports.” (Schaefer, 2003: 228) Nevertheless, resegregation is not being observed in all parts of the USA, and there are many liberal states and cities that maintain least racial and ethnic prejudice. Hence, non-whites are neither harassed nor discouraged to seek education in these schools. On the contrary, the white students enter into friendship and love even with their non-white schoolmates and share their joys and sorrows with them. These enlightened students declare the presence of different races as a healthy trend, which teaches them how to succeed and survive while living with the people belonging to divergent racial, religious and ethnic groups. Hence, a large number of the whites is supportive of desegregated educational institutions for the prevalence of peace, prosperity, justice and equality in the American society. Somehow, bias certainly exists in the minds of the majority of the white students, who look standing against the participation of the Blacks in their schools. However, this trend could be controlled and mitigated gradually. Teachers can play vital role in this regard. Being the central figure and most influential personality of the classroom, the teacher can teach tolerance, love, kindness, compassion, and benevolence towards the members of other races. In addition, it is teacher that can realize the Americans the very reality that every racial group has rendered services for the uplift and dominance of the USA over the world. In addition, the parents and elder citizens can perform their moral obligation by communicating impartiality and equality to the young generation. It will not only help out in diminishing prejudice and racial hatred from the hearts and minds of the people, but also will turn out to be beneficial for the growth, prosperity and socio-political stability of the country at large. List of References: Fredrickson, G. M. 1981 White Supremacy: A Comparative Study in American and South African History. New York Parks, Rosa. 1992 My Story Paperback Publishers Schaefer, Richard T. 2006 Racial and Ethnic Groups Tenth Edition Prentice-Hall Pearson Education, Inc. Read More