In my world history class we just wrapped up our study of imperialism and nationalism and their historical effects on society which eventually led to WWI. Essentially, we came to the conclusion that nationalism, much like race, was a social construction, created to do just the opposite of racism. Nationalism was this whole notion of an imagined community of various ethnic groups, languages, and cultures, that came together after the European Age of Enlightenment and sought to unite nations under common institutions, traditions, allegiances, and rights. Where as this notion of race was created during the European Age of Imperialism to establish a system of social stratification that was put in place to divide those in power from the various colonized ethnic groups in the Americas and the Pacific Islands and inevitably to marginalize and disenfranchise those who looked differently from those in power.
The point is that when it comes down to it we are a nation of immigrants afrom different races, from various backgrounds, cultures, ethnic groups, etc. and based on that fact alone, we really do have very little in common. From my experience, many people who are from relatively affluent, predominantly European backgrounds, speak standard English, and participate in mainstream, activities generally accepted as American pastimes, traditions, religions, and customs can rarely relate to individuals who are not from similar demographics. Furthermore, many rarely take the opportunity to even try to relate or to understand and appreciate the great diversity that other cultures, customs, religions, and backgrounds represent. Historically, we have a track record of this which can be exemplified not only in the Jim Crow Era, the Women's Liberation movement, the Civil Rights Movement, the LGQBT Movement, the Chicano(a) Movement, and the Native American Movement, as well as various other movements.
My point is that these divisions exist and have been sources to disenfranchise, exploit, marginalize, oppress, and persecute those who are not in positions of power. This marginalization has manifested itself in the form of racism, discrimination, prejudice, and bias and has holistically prevented many women, people who are LGQBT, of color, and who are economically or socially disavanataged, from essentially most positions of power. It has also played a major role in the degradation and subjugation that many of these individuals have faced in society, specifically in the media, television, film, employment, entrepreneurship, business, education, and government. Lastly, it has barred the mobility of a large portion of the American public from obtaining any means of advancing politically, socially, and ecomically.
This lack of cross-cultural understanding is the direct result of a lack of access to factual, unbiased, information about the actual history and experiences of various individuals in society. My experiences at a university, for the past three years, have taught me that for most of life I was undereducated. If it were not for the supplemental education that I received from my parents, I would probably be an exact product of my environment, much like many people in our society are direct replicas of their environment. My thirst for knowledge was encouraged and supported by my parents and teachers and enabled me to truly learn to respect and accept others who were different from me and it taught me to learn to appreciate their difference, and to seek out knowledge to not only learn more about what it is that makes me who I am, but also about what it is that makes others who they are as well. I attribute this as the primary reason why I am such an curious, open-minded, and progressive person.
I understand that we live in an increasingly changing and incredibly diverse society, but from my Southern roots, I also understand that in many places in our society, things are not changing as rapidly and the demographics, beliefs, and customs are still very homogeneous. In these parts, everyone looks the same, acts the same, dresses the same, and worships the same. On large part, many people are fearful of change. They like things the way that they are and although I appreciate and understand this perspective, I also understand the extreme implications it has on the rest of the country and the world. Additionally, I understand the importance for each and every person to venture outside of this comfort zone and attempt to learn something new about someone different, that you probably wouldn't have learned from a textbook that was printed with inaccurate and biased information. I truly believe that we live in such a remarkable country, and I so grateful to have had the opportunities that I have had as product not only of a middle/working class African American family, but also as the first generation in my family to attend a university, graduate, and hopefully soon enter a professional/graduate school. I am not sure if this could have been accomplished in any other country and I am very fortunate to be where I am today.
Nevertheless as a History major, I have studied every year, the stories of many Americans who weren't able to accomplish all that I have accomplished because of the oppression, exploitation, marginalization, and various other obstacles that they faced on a constant basis. I know all to well, that for many Americans, the story was not a positive one. It was a tale of struggle, to find the basic necessities to live a productive and meaningful life. It was a story of poverty and of injustice. It was a story of violence and discrimination. But most importantly it was a story of triumph. It was a story of relentless energy and spirit. It was a story of resilience, perseverance, and hope.
While we may come from different backgrounds, some rich and some poor, some black, red, brown, and yellow, and some white. Some Christian, some Muslim, and some in between, and some from here in the US and some from abroad, we are all here now and where we came from is not all that we are. We are so much more than geography, linguistics, religion, pigmentation, gender, and demographics. We are living, breathing, feeling people, with the potential to do amazing things in the world and I think that with a little respect and understanding we can truly work not to become colorblind but to become color conscious, to not ignore but acknowledge our differences as sources of inspiration and education and as a glimpse of the amazing complexities of the world. If this can be accomplished in any country in the world then I am almost certain that it is in this country. While I understand that this may take time I am hopeful that it can happen someday...someday soon, and I am hoping that I will be alive to see the day that it does.
Sincerely,
Rodney K. Nickens Jr.
~With Hope
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