America's Race Relations

While many positive things have taken place in America’s race relations, there are still problems that need to be examined and fixed before there is true understanding and appreciation between the races. Although certain measures seemingly mimic peaceful relations between the races, they have only delayed the problems at hand. As our constitution declares that all are created equal, we are obliged to directly interact with our racial counterparts and not to remain “separate but equal.” In America, only half measures have really been taken to patch up in truth the remnant of slavery and segregation between African-Americans and Caucasian-Americans; however, our nation is a multi-cultural mutt. Having halfheartedly worked on improving relations between two races has prolonged the time to truly have harmonious race relations. As I am from the South, which has a history rich in racial interaction, I see firsthand the efforts in bettering white and black interaction, however, I still notice racial tensions persist not only between white and black, but also between many of the other races that have come to this region. Whereas efforts have been taken to ease the racial tension between white and black, I feel that these measures partaken only between these two races cause racial tension to cultivate between other groups, due to neglect.

Although there are many races, when efforts to ease relations between White and Black are undertaken, many racial groups may be clumped together under only these labels. This, in turn, caused problems internal to the group. In my life, I have observed these problems directly. At Bridge Builder, a program in which tries to “build bridges” between the races, I was put under the vague label of White, and of...

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...f the 9/11 attacks. Therefore, whenever mere mention of Middle Eastern conflict occurs in conversation, there is a cycle back to the 9/11 attacks, and a cycle back to a discussion of the culprits. It is as if the conflict of the attackers has never been resolved.

Even as our society today tends to neglect certain racial groups by grouping them under such labels as Black and White, our society has, however, tremendously improved its race relations since the past. Coming from a country in which it was the norm to think one race was superior to another; America has certainly leveled the opportunities for both White and Black mega-groups. On the other hand, though, as our country has grown more multi-cultural over the years since this equality between White and Black, we have not taken the proper measures to truly offer equal opportunities for these new racial groups.