Jeon, Heekyung: Diversity

Until we were able to peacefully live in the nation of diversity all together, there had been lots of struggles of African-American people against race discrimination and the injustices of  society.

In the past, there were White churches in which African-Americans were not allowed to join for services. Black people were despised and treated with disdain by White people. White churches just kept silent when Black people appealed for justice and true freedom. However, after constant movements BY people such as Martin Luther King Jr. who desperately desired for human equality, African-Americans eventually achieved their deserved human rights. Nowadays, the United States is obviously well-known as one of the nations which racial discrimination barely exists.

Sadly, despite all Americans’ efforts to get rid of the racial injustice, racial discrimination is still deeply ingrained. For example, there are still many “historically black” colleges in which more than 90% of the students are Black. Also, this year a Black mother who was sentenced to 10 days in prison because she sent her daughter to a school in a White district. Furthermore, Black defendants with White victims are more likely to get stronger punishments than White defendants with Black victims when they commit the same crime. Some kids are taught that different races are not supposed to be married and grow up with racism.  

Before I came to the United States, I expected lots of mixed-race couples walking in the street and Black and White college students talking and giggling to one another in a group on the campus because America is multicultural. Instead, I have observed Black-White racial segregation and stereotypes about other races. Through my experiences while studying in the United States, I realized that the racial issues have not completely been solved even 57 years after the African-American Civil Rights Movement.  I hope the day comes soon when all races realize the true meaning of human rights, practice on equality, and mingle well with other races without any stereotype.