Ethnic Strife in the U.S.

Tammie Gaskins

Ethnic strife or conflict is more common that we are willing to admit and it must be fought if our society is to move forward. There are many aspects that can be addressed early on

and if we begin to educate early in life, we will have an easier time as adults understanding ways that we can all work together and move forward instead of working against one another based on outdated ideas passed down for generations, or misconceptions based on a lack of understanding. Our understanding must start early, it is important to implement programs in school to help our children understand that differences are something that should be embraced and not held against one another. If we put in place programs that allow and encourage children of different ethnic backgrounds to mix and interact we can take steps towards a better understanding. Multicultural assemblies and events will also help to bring an understanding as well as a desire to learn more about other cultures. The parents should also take an active role in helping our children understand that diversity is a beneficial part of our world Henze (2001). We must bring equality into the workplace, paying based on merit and not on gender or skin color. Many of the policies that are in place today were launched in the 1960s and are in serious need of being updated. The rules and scenarios that worked 40 years or more ago, in many cases, do not apply today. We need to build a stronger society through developing the skills needed to not only accept the differences but to embrace them and work hard to understand them. We need to build on the differences and create a society where we share our differences openly and with them build a better future. By intertwining different cultures and different ethnic variances we can create a melded society where no matter skin color, religious beliefs, gender or any other variance we see one another as humans. Our main goal needs to be a society that looks ahead instead of behind. We need to educate, and work as a single society to put prejudice, discrimination and conflict behind us. The first and most important step is education, acceptance and an understanding of our differences.

We must all work together to reach a common goal and to bring society together. Our future, to some extent, depends on it.

References

Henslin, J. M. (2010). Sociology A down-to-earth approach. Boston, MA.: Pearson

Henze, R. (2001). Segregated classroom, integrated intent. Journal of Education for Students Placed at Risk, 6(1 & 2), 133155.