Race and Ethnicity in America

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Race and Ethnicity in America

In 1492 Columbus sailed the Ocean Blue. Everyone knows the story of Christopher Columbus; they are taught it in grade school if not before then. When he landed in America by accident, he had no idea that he would be creating the world's largest Melting Pot. This "melting pot" provided means for a new country, made from a mixture of many cultures and beliefs, thus creating a new country with a new and ever-changing culture. One complication with a Melting Pot is that you cannot put people of different race and ethnicity together without conflict.

Conflict defined by dictionary.com as: "A state of disharmony between incompatible or antithetical persons, ideas, or interests; a clash." Humanity has been enduring an ongoing battle for centuries: the strained relations among the races. Despite efforts to put the past behind, signs remain at nearly every juncture that there still exists a strong sense of racial dissension.

This conflict started when the Columnists landed in America. At first they wanted to be friends with Indians but soon felt a need to change their way of life. The Columnists started pushing their religious and spiritual views on to them. A short while later they felt the need to take land from the Indians that were native to that area. Then when they ran out of room what did they do? They just took more and more land until they were satisfied. The Indians that had been there for centuries, as far as we know it, were being forced off the land that was rightfully theirs.

This battle between the Columnists and Indians went on for many years. The Indians were being forced off the land that they have lived on for generations. Many Battles were fought over land...

... middle of paper ...

...nd experiences with verbal, physical, and sexual harassment and assault in school" (www.gleson.org). I see therefore that instead of a person hating a race, instead people try to find someone to hate so that they can feel superior. So for America to truly leave race and ethnicity behind, they must move past new excuses to hate and move beyond hate it self, because only then can unity thrive and we truly be a "melting pot."

Bibliography:

Work Cited

"Discussing Mathew Shepard." Gleson. 12 October 1999.

.

Eikenberry, David. Personal Interview. 15 February 2001.

Firestone, David. "Redesigned Georgia Flag is Advanced by House." New York Times. 25

January 2001: Unknown.

United States Supreme Court. Plessy vs. Ferguson. Washington: 1896.

United States Supreme Court. Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka Kansas. Washington:

1954.

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