Culture is the organized pattern of values; beliefs and behavior developed and practiced over a period by a social group. Groups construct culture from their environment and a symbolic representation of themselves. Culture stands on language, social institutions and codes of conduct. It can be identified and differentiated by language, beliefs, rituals and people’s customs; learnt through social interaction. Therefore, culture entails a patterned, symbolic and both adaptive and maladaptive system. Interactions of races bring up the difference in the social living thus creating a gap. Different people depending on their adaptive nature to the environment lead to diverse lives. For instance, the African Americans get viewed as a lower class than the whites. Dr. Cosby and Dyson came up with relatively different views on the problems facing the African Americans currently.
Dr. Cosby says that African Americans are to blame for their poverty situations and are responsible for their poor living standards. The African American should step up and take responsibility for their situations instead of accepting what is, has been and is still affecting them. He further says that being irresponsible will always result in irresponsibility wherever one may go. African should be responsible for their living to create a responsible generation. He believes that people are to blame as they are not responsible enough to correct and guide their children hence leading to generative poor lives. African Americans should work on their social, moral and personal responsibilities. Dyson says that African Americans are not to blame for the situation there are in because the situations are beyond their capabilities, and they face a variety of failures that encompass them. He believes that the African Americans are not responsible as a whole for the reasons that render them underprivileged. The do not suffer intentionally. Therefore, it is wrong for any critics to attribute their state of poverty to their decisions.
Both Dr. Cosby and Dyson offer conflicting views in describing the African American situation. In order to develop a progressive solution, the impasse in ideology will require solving.
Part 1
Indeed their opinions generate much thought and debate. The ideas, though different, echo a similar tone. An attempt at any resolution will need both ideas to be further refined.
Part 2
It is correct that Dr. Cosby and Dyson clash in their opinion on what ails the African-American community. Despite their varied suggestions on solving the issue, a unified theory will most likely be the best solution.
