Michele Young 10/19/2012 Dr. Jeanette N.

Escabar Culture and Diversity ETH/125 Version 7 Week 9 Assignment

What information about diversity in the United States has helped you better understand or relate to others in ways that you may not have in the past? I have learned that diversity was something immense in the past; before the 1950s business owners did not want colored people in their businesses because they only wanted white people. I have also learned that we have come a long way since then; in 2008 we voted in the first African American President Barack Obama. I have always believed that we are all human and there is no difference in some one that looks different just because the color of their skin. We are all different and unique in our own way whether we were born to live the lives of our parents, or their parents before them. Everyone is raised different but we are all still human and made of the same blood. Diversity is something the older generation cannot break because that is the life they were raised to live. Newer generations are much more accepting of people who look different than they do just because of their skin color. The color of skin you were born with does not make you any different than somebody else is. In the past black people were treated like slaves just because their skin was darker than white people. That kind of power white people had over black people was astronomical to think it was only because white people were intimidated by somebody who had a different skin color. I do not think anybody has the right to claim the life of another as their own to do with as they please. Without getting to know people who might look or act different then we do we dont have the right to judge them differently than we are. Judging someone makes them seem that they feel superior because differences might scare them and they feel judging them is their only option.

Have you learned something new about your own racial, ethnic, or cultural history? I have learned that I am open to learn about and experience the differences we all have. My own race or culture should not restrict my preferences or desires in life. Exploring other cultures would empower my own understanding of how we are all different yet we all live day to day for our families and loved ones.

Trends in immigration will continue to shape the demographics of the United States.

What will the U.S. population look like in the year 2050? Why do you think so? I believe America was at one time filled with a white majority and people of color were a small minority. The last few decades have brought many people of different colors and cultures dimming the majority of a white population. A large majority of the reason there are so many illegal immigrants who come to America from Mexico are coming here to better their lives by finding better jobs. Businesses are more apt to hire immigrants because when they come here they are desperate for work and they accept cheaper wages. By 2050 the large increase in immigration will turn the white population into the minority. People from other countries come to America because they feel they will have better opportunities here. There are so many jobs that need people who accept lower wages and these are the jobs immigrants tend to achieve. They may seem like low paying jobs to Americans, but to an immigrant the lifestyle and respect they receive here make those jobs worth the income.

What challenges does the United States face due to the diversity of its people? A large problem with the huge diversity of people is the conflict that some people cannot avoid when they feel so different than another culture. Some cultures have a hard time looking past others because of their own personal beliefs or by the colors of their skin. A great example would be how Americas prisons have to segregate certain cultures because of the way some people feel about their viewpoint. So many people feel entitled to a certain way of life or be treated a certain way because of their beliefs or how they were brought up. Society is still filled with people who have so much hatred for others because of the colors of their skin. Different cultures seem to gang up together and they feel like they are superior of other people. There are many different variations of these groups such as the white supremacists, the KKK, Gangs, etc. Some people use hate and violence against other groups of people who are different than they are on the outside of their skin. We are all built with the same organs and blood yet the shade of our skin is something that is a problem which may never go away. By 2050 there will be so many different groups of people the melting pot will be spilling over. The United States should try not letting Americans form groups who work against each other. We need to be able to account for the number of current Americans who are looking for work rather than letting immigrants take those jobs away.

What are the benefits of such a diverse society? By being around others who are different than us by the color of their skin or the beliefs they were raised with, we will be able to see that they really are no different than we are. There is one thing that everybody in the world can attest to being the most important thing in their life and thats family. Everybody has family, which is not something that can be restricted to just because of their skin color or religious beliefs. With a large diversity we would be able to experience or understand other cultures and realize they are similar to us. We can all grow stronger together by understanding why we all were taught to have different beliefs and that should not make us any different. People should not judge others based on ideas they have on how they might differ from us. Benefits occur every day with a diverse society, we all live

together and go about our own business daily, all trying to better our lives by producing income to generate a lifestyle we can raise our own children in. Getting to know other peoples differences should create a better style of living and eliminate any sort of negativity and hatred against one another.

How can we foster a climate of acceptance and cultural pluralism in the United States? By teaching acceptance of other cultures in school early on children will learn we are all the same early on in life. Sometimes school is the only place people are given the opportunities to learn new things about other cultures and ways of living. Accepting differences in people early on teaching young people to accept others by who their personalities and own beliefs make them. People need to hold back their fears of being different than one another and having negative thoughts about others because of their own culture. Differences can come in a variety of forms such as our language, actions or even the clothes we wear or dont wear. They can also come in actions such as the way we believe in our own religion or a lifestyle we have learned to live. Without being exposed to differences in cultures we would be restricted to thinking of our own as normal and new cultures as scary and different.

In what ways does the media perpetuate stereotyping and prejudice? Provide examples to support your assertion. The media is a huge reason society believes false accusations on other people. The media can easily point out these differences in people by making them seem like they are different than we are which makes them look bad. For instance the Treyvon Martin case was a great example of the media blowing everything out of proportion. Race was a large issue and the media was consistently pointing out the differences in the suspect and victim. Another example of media influences would be the Casey Anthony trial when she was acquitted of killing her little girl. For months after the verdict that case was still in the news because most Americans believed there was enough evidence to prove her guilt. The media used her partying life and unstable living style to portray her as a bad mother. When Enrique Iglesias and his lover adopted children the media questioned their decision just because of their sexual orientation.

In what ways does the media help foster appreciation for diversity? Provide examples to support your assertion. The media greatly influenced the election of President Obama by the acceptance of the color of his skin. Being the first African American president was definitely an ionic experience. The media defiantly exploded over that election more so than any other just because of the color of his skin. Another example of media provoked appreciation of diversity would be Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie adopting their children from another country. They were one of the many celebrity families who became foster parent of children with different heritages and skin colors.

How might individuals and the United States work together to reduce prejudice and increase appreciation for diversity? As previously stated the best way for people to work together to reduce prejudice is by teaching it in schools. Children learn so much in the first few years of their life it is important to expose them to different cultures and people who are different than you are. By learning at a young age that skin color and beliefs do not make us different we would be more accepting of diversity. Learning why people are taught differently or why they believe the things they do we might be able to compare it to the same things present in our own lives.

How might you change your own behaviors to be more inclusive and pluralistic? By treating other people the same as we would want them to treat us. We all have feelings and it hurts when people judge others just because they might look different than we do. By understanding why somebody feels the way they do about something it would give us a better understanding of their thinking. We should try to befriend people we normally wouldnt because of a difference they might have. By getting to know people and understanding their beliefs I feel we would be able to accept others in society.