Being a multicultural society, the US has had a shattered sociological and historical past with racial and ethnic tensions between Native Americans and Whites taking toll on efforts to bridge the racial gaps that threaten to tear the country apart. Even with the unprecedented election of the first ever African Black-American as a President in the history of the US, evidence shows that ethnic and racial tensions are still likely to be here with us though it must be admitted America has made tremendous efforts towards reducing racial tensions over the last century.
I think it is still difficult for many American people to publicly express their feelings about race and ethnic relations particularly in mixed race settings. According to Ojalvo (6), people still have a problem with talking openly about race, ethnic and related issues thereto mainly because the issues of race and ethnicity are divisive ones that normally don’t end well. Moreover, it is still difficult for people to talk about race and ethnic tensions due to the topic of race being such a painful and emotional issue particularly for Blacks who have suffered from historical racial discrimination and segregation. Others also still consider the issues of race and ethnic tensions to be tough and tricky topics that are multifaceted in that they evoke a series of historical and sociological emotions of economic, political and social suffering of the minority ethnic and racial groups under the hands of the dominant majority Whites. Moreover, according to this author, Americans are still not comfortable talking publicly about race due to the stereotypes that are being spread about the same in the States. Such stereotypes involve the notion that people are naturally different both in color and intellect based on their appearance.
Personally, as a student, I feel more comfortable to openly talk about race relations in my classes because I think failing to talk about the same only makes the issue more divisive and one day it is going to blow up in our own faces. I feel we are stronger in a more united nation when we appreciate the racial and ethnic tensions that threaten to divide us so that we can find ways, both legal and policy, to help ameliorate the situation. I have had an opportunity in one of my sociology classes to talk about race. In such discussions, our instructor put us in random groups of black, Hispanic, Asian, and White American students to discuss our racial ideas and what we think can be done to remedy the ethnic tensions. However, unfortunately, even in some of these discussions, racial feelings come out openly and the stereotypical issues about racial relations that each racial group holds against the other come out clearly. So, yes, I think it is cool and a great idea to openly talk about race to help chart a way forward for national unity and equal opportunity or treatment.
Works Cited
Ojalvo, H.S. “Why is race hard to talk about?” The New York Times. 27 July. 2010. Web. 8 May. 2016. Web. <http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/27/why-is-race-hard-to-talk-about/?_r=0>
