Hall 1

Kaylin Hall

Ms. Jorgensen

English 10 Honors Per. 1

27 November 2018

Race Integration in America

A common dispute in both, America’s present times and long past history, has derived

from the simple, but complicated, act of integrating races. It’s a fifty-fifty tie of what the

majority of people think should occur. One side leans towards having racial integration, and they

believe America as a whole could succeed more by doing so. Clearly, the other side would be a

contrast of that, saying that races should not be mixed together, and by keeping a separation in

race, it will overall be beneficial. Many people may think that this argument is not still occuring

in America, however it is strongly recognized on a daily basis. Racial integration comes with

difficult challenges, but should be utilized into society, allowing for America to prosper as one.

It is no doubt that no matter what the situation is, there is bound to be problems that arise

in society. It is only human for there to be conflict, when it comes down to a topic of such high

amounts of desire to have prosperity as a whole. A solution to take care of things, would be to

get people to cherish and thrive as a variety, but also as an individual. “This is your country, this

is your world, this is your body, and you must find some way to live within all of it” (Coates 12).

The constant conflict can be resolved easily with the start of a few people, as it does not have to

take large numbers to make a difference. With the single thought of knowing that this is their

country and they can decide how to live in it, should only encourage them to allow for racial

integration to be present. Everyone is just trying to find

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their way to live in this world, and it is not always easy. It for sure does not help when skin

colors, origins, and diversity of a person can cause problems for individuals. For example, in

Norman Rockwell's painting, “New Kids in the Neighborhood,” shows just one of the many

challenges colored people face. In is obvious that both sides, the colored kids and the white kids,

have an uneasy approach to each other when one of them moves into the neighborhood. It was as

if it was not normal for there to be a mix of races in that community, which at one point, was not

normal. However, years later, history should not be lingering into present day. Unfortunately it is

still happening now, even if people want to deny it. It not only causes problems for adults and

elders, but it is also affecting the children in their prime, innocent years of youth. In the “Racism

in America: Small Town 1950s Case Study Documentary Film,” it was stated, “We have tried to

keep the discussions away from the children. I feel that it is something that we adults should

solve without bringing the children into it any more than we have to. We are doing it for the

children, but I don’t feel that they are old enough to understand the problem as it is.” With

mindsets like these, people never realize that the children do know, and do have a sense of what

is going on in their communities, whether their parents tell them or they see it with their own

eyes in their life. The children in the Rockwell painting are a prime example of this. It will cause

conflicts in the children’s youth, along with everyone else’s in society. There are conflicts for no

absolute reason. For example, in the short story “Sweetness,” it says, “I had to protect her. She

didn’t know the world. With that skin, there was no point in being tough or sassy, even when you

were right. Not in a world where you could be sent to a juvenile lockup for talking back or

fighting in school, a world where you’d be the last one hired and the first one fired. She didn’t

know any of that or how her black skin would scare white people or make them laugh or try to

trick her” (Morrison).

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Everyone is the same, and no one should be treated different, like in these cases for instance. It is

evident that there are numerous difficulties that stem from racial integration, but society can have

a turning point, for the better, with a change in mindset of the citizens of America.

Even though there are so many difficulties, the positives really out weigh the negatives in

a case like this. Racial integration can truly be so beneficial for a country and all of its races,

communities, and individuals. It has been proven that diverse environments can be beneficial for

both whites and minorities. “Racially diverse neighborhoods provide opportunities for exposure

and interactions between whites and minorities, which appears to contribute to greater tolerance,

fair mindedness, and openness to diverse networks and settings” (Turner 1). If there is not an

acceptance of diversity, then the big picture will never be improved. For beneficial factors to

occur, a mix of races has to be seen, to get results. It is also beneficial in other aspects of life, as

well, like education. It is said, “White and minority students benefit both academically and

socially from a racially and ethnically diverse university communities. Racial diversity leads to

more complex thinking among college students. And informal interactions between people of

different racial groups improve college students’ academic outcomes and social growth” (Turner

1). These years of education set up the future for all people, and depending on how well

individuals can thrive in their communities, will be that deciding factor for more than just a

single future, but many. Diversity allows for there to be higher opportunities that are equal

among all races, and without a doubt, everyone could help each other out. Once racial integration

happens, instead of only certain people getting to rise, America as whole can rise together hand

in hand.

It takes everyone to turn away from these challenges, and proceed with a lifestyle that

includes integration of all races. With that being done, America could truly be unstoppable

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when growing and strengthening in unity.

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 Works Cited

Coates, Ta-Nehisi. ​Between the World and Me.​ Spiegel and Grau, 2015.

Morrison, Toni. “Sweetness.” ​The New York Times,​ 9 February 2015.

“Racism in America: Small Town 1950s Case Study Documentary Film.” ​YouTube​, Accessed

on 1 November 2018

Rockwell, Norman. “New Kids in the Neighborhood (Negro in the Suburbs).” ​Brooklyn

Museum,​ 1967.

Turner, Marjory Austin, and Annette Rowlings. “Promoting Neighborhood Diversity,

Benefits, Barriers, and Strategies.” ​The Urban Institute​, August 2009.