Autobiography:

The History of Dealing with Pluralism in United State of America, 

Emmanuel A. Turuka

Western Michigan University

 Before taking this course, I had never explored race, class, gender and sexuality so deeply. I had never considered how and why these divisions and classifications in America culture came about. My assumptions were based on the principle that human behavior is natural or predetermined by genetic, biological and thus, are not subject to change. As Gelman & Hirschfe explained that “one reason why race is psychologically significant, we contend, is because of its associated notion of a core defining essence underlying observed physical differences across groups. Observable outward differences in skin tone, hair texture, eye shape, and body build are potential cues for how a particular individual will come to identify him- or herself” (Gelman & Hirschfe, 1999).

Throughout this semester, I have realized the emphasis on race, class, gender and sexuality are social constructions and therefore changeable. However, I don’t see how such system can be changed. Before people in ancient society were not divided by race, gender, class or sexuality but divided according to religion, status and even language. Right now, people are conditioned to look at particular character trait and base the discussion from there about that particular difference from one another.

It seems that it is human nature to differentiate one group of people from another. I guess the problem is not that people are categorized as different, but that the differences are used to justify unequal treatment amongst people in the same society. I believe race and gender are so deeply rooted in our minds and in our institutions. A question which we can ask ourselves is, “Are you proud of who you are?” -Race is a powerful determinant of world-views such that the racial reality of people of color in an organization is different from that of whites (Sue, 2003).

The biggest challenge facing us is how can we change this mindset viewing others differently? To me, the first step is to acknowledge that there is a problem. When I look to other people groups who believe they are better than or more valuable than someone else strictly because of their race, class gender or sexuality, I will challenge that thinking as the source of discrimination.  It is truly ignorant.

Throughout my life, I have never had a direct touch to the issue of race, class, gender and sexuality, because the history of my country, the society in which I lived in, and my own experience there. My parents have passed down to me had very few encounters with people who are different from me. I am an International student from Tanzania. Generally speaking, Tanzanian culture is quite rich and has contributed a lot in the development and advancement of the country. The diversity of Tanzanian culture appeals to a large number of people, who come from distant areas across the globe. The various forms of Tanzanian culture are language, painting, sculpture, national anthem, and popular dance.

The most important contribution towards the culture of Tanzania has been the language. More than 100 languages are spoken in this country. After receiving our independence, the government of the country found the language very difficult to administer, so it introduced Swahili language as the official language. The literature of Tanzania is no less enriched in terms of race and sexual orientations. With over 120 tribes, Tanzania is one of the most culturally diverse countries in all of Africa.

Since I came to US, my eyes have opened greatly by the way Dr. Johnson taught this course. Reading different articles and books about multiculturalism has opened my eyes and my mind has opened even more. As Morrison & Von Glinow argue “It is true that US is the most culturally diverse in the world; demands for change at the individual, institutional and societal levels are becoming more pressing as the means to increase productivity effective communication, and efficiency of organizations and minimize misunderstanding and conflicts” (Morrison & Von Glinow, 1990). From the above analysis, I believe that all human beings are equal. The problem is that not all humans are treated equally. It is disgusting to see how history and culture make black people inferior to whites in the US. Race has caused many problems within the human species; it is the main category of difference and serves as one of the main reasons of inequality which is existing now.

The United States is a pluralist society composed of identifiable ethnic groups. A core principle defining the nation is an explicit commitment to the ideal that all people are created equal, irrespective of ethnic and cultural background. This core value of American society plays a prominent role in its laws and in the debate around social policies. In other words, pluralism is a state of society in which members of diverse ethnic, racial, religious maintain participation in developing society. It is not only participation also is a process of showing toleration among one another and the emphasis is put on elimination of prejudice. Everyone is welcomed in diversity.

In the United States, the pluralization of value systems is especially strong. Developed a result of its history as an immigration country, where different value communities have always coexisted. American society as such is the product of a mix of values and orientations, emerging from the integrative capacity of the USA as a cultural melting pot. An increasing expansion of mass markets coincides with movements oriented towards values such as sustainability, for which individual markets emerge.

Pluralism is a process involving mutually respectful relationships. It is a system that holds within its individual or groups differing in basic background, experience and culture. It allows for the development of a common tradition while preserving the right of each group to maintain its cultural heritage. This can as well turn to political pluralism which allows participation by numerous and competing groups organized around class, racial ethnic and cultural interests as a form of democracy. The challenge for a plural society containing diverse ethnic, racial religious, linguistic and cultural groups is to establish common principles without hindering the importance and value of diverse group identities. The openness and differentiation that characterize American society has been a mixed blessing.

Therefore, pluralism is the belief that democracy is a balancing structure between all of the different interest groups within society. It is a consensus theory. Pluralism allows for many different groupings. It allows a thousand flowers to bloom with minorities forming communities of faith, ethnicity or culture within a society — but under the overarching umbrella of a national identity to whose core values everyone signs up. It is only by having that overarching set of common values: freedom of conscience, equal rights for women, freedom of expression and freedom of choice that make a society or country to define itself as a democrat. Therefore, it begins to build relationships across differences in order to better work with all kinds of people. Too often, we refuse to acknowledge other’s differences. Do I see you as black or woman, gay man or even a disabled person? I need to see everyone as the same as me.

The demographics of the United States are changing faster, the United States is now more diverse with respect to race, ethnicity, national origin, language, religion, and other areas of difference than it has ever been before. Hispanics have eclipsed African Americans as the largest minority group. People are intermarrying at an astonishing rate. Diversity is the best way to prepare for the future success.

Religion in the workplace has been identified as a concern for some organizations. Christianity is the majority and the dominant religion in the United States. Diversity enriches our lives. Cultural diversity brings together the resources and talents of many people for the shared benefit of all. Sadly, the differences among us have historically formed the basis of fear and even violence. Yet, consider how dull life would be if we all looked alike, thought alike, and acted alike! By learning to recognize our similarities and appreciate our differences, together we can overcome prejudice and intolerance and work towards a more peaceful and productive world.

People may fear diversity simply because they are accustomed to the way things used to be and change makes them uncomfortable. Others may somehow feel threatened because they perceive increased participation by traditionally underrepresented groups in the workplace and the political process as a challenge to their own power.

Diversity is focused on helping people of color to achieve the goals and resources defined as important by the white society. Diversity also works hand in hand with assimilation. Assimilating is a way to bring unrepresented class, race or gender into the dominant culture. Race related crises need to respond to swiftly. Each issue of racism or perceived racism should be acknowledged with the understanding that the feeling of assault is equally as painful to the worker. In America context, the development of pluralism as an idea is intertwined with questions of democracy, religion, race and ethicality and assimilation. The founders set out to create a political system that could accommodate a multitude of different groups and interests while producing collective agreements that commanded allegiance.

 For example, Colin Powell (black) was the highest ranking military officer (Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff) in the United States. He went on from there to be Secretary of State of the US – the 4th highest ranking public official in the US after the President.
Condoleezza Rice (black) is the current Secretary of State.
Barack Obama (African father, white mother) is an elected President of the United States. This does not change the fact that this man, who has direct ties to Africa, has the opportunity to attain to the highest political office in the US. While blacks constitute only 12% of the US population, they are far and away the majority and most highly paid athletes in American football and basketball. They constitute a very large portion of American baseball players. These people all make many, more times money than does the President of the nation. This is the benefit of diversity.

In order to be successful working in diverse environments, a person must examine what they believe to be true about others. Get in touch with your own biases. It is easier to deny any biases and think because I treat everyone the same it means I treat them equally. Treating everybody the same does not always equate to treating them as equals. Overcoming biases mean going past the golden rule of treating people the same way I want to be treated. Treat them the way they want to be treated. It is here when one needs to include the role of inclusion, which means that all people have the same opportunities and equal access to resources employment and power. Therefore, diversity, assimilation and inclusion are the most important steps to a multicultural society.

Multicultural education recognizes cultural diversity as a fact of life in American society and it affirms that this cultural diversity should be preserved and extended. A multicultural approach promotes cultural pluralism and social equity, which can prepare individual regardless of race to challenge social structural diversity. Man must embark on the difficult journey beyond culture, because the greatest separation feat of all is where one manages to gradually free oneself from the grip of unconscious culture. Therefore, multiculturalism means maintenance of an alien culture and lessening community cohesiveness.

Unlike assimilation - where everyone's differences are lost in a giant melting pot - multiculturalism advocates the idea that maintaining our different cultural identities can enrich us and our communities. Multiculturalism does not promote ethnocentrism or seek to elevate one cultural identity above another. Instead, it celebrates diversity by allowing us to value our individual heritages and beliefs while respecting those of others. Respect for each others' cultural values and belief systems is an intrinsic part of cultural diversity. Lack of respect is often based on ignorance or misinformation. If you do not understand another's values, lifestyle, or beliefs, it is much easier to belittle them. And so the seeds of prejudice and intolerance are sown.

Problem

It has been far less successful assimilating racial minorities. African and Native Americans are still not fully integrated as mainstream Americans. Because of a centuries old problem of race relations and racial integration, the growing presence of people of color from developing world countries exacerbates the matter. If nation’s strength lies in its people, then the strength of the United States clearly lies in the diversity of its people. Immigrants from all over the world have come here, and in one way world have come here, and in one way or another each group has played or another each group has played some role in the nation’s evolution into its present superpower status. Part of our problem has been our cultural mindset. With a simplistic white and non-white racial classification system, one which indicates an “us” versus “them” mentality, it manifests itself into a social distancing, including differential treatment, deprivation and suffering. Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream that one day his children would be judged by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin.

As many American scholars argued that “American culture is multicultural. Our multiculturalism may be the defining element of our culture. We are a nation whose legacy includes people and traditions from every nation. If we can fully embrace our multicultural heritage, it may prove to be the United States’ greatest strength.”

Multiculturalism is and always will be part of the American culture. America is the "melting pot" of the world, built on the blood, sweat, and tears of people of many different cultures. Every family in America (except Native American Indians) immigrated to this country. Multiculturalism is divisive. According to this myth, immigrants coming to the United States eventually have been assimilated and considered themselves to be Americans. The myth goes on to state that when ethnicity is turned into a defining characteristic, it promotes division rather than unity. This shallow reasoning denies the multiple diversities that always have existed and continue to exist throughout the United States. "Diversity" has become a “buzz word” of our new "politically correct" society. People may be "overwhelmed" by the term because they do not understand that it is and always has been the key to American society. The simple phrase, "We the people..." will always be understood, and that is why it was chosen by America's founding fathers to introduce the cornerstone document of this country, The Constitution of the United States.

The true value of multiculturalism comes when "we" is defined in a universal truth. The "Founding Fathers" knew in 1776 that this country would be a growing, diverse society. That is why they chose words that provided hope and a clearly defined blueprint to build a fair and orderly society.

I do not think multiculturalism has become too politically correct to be really effective. As communicators, we should find the words, images, and sounds, to convey universal truths in our messages. If we accomplish that task as we help clients promote their products, the value of multicultural marketing will become readily apparent.

Sexuality is not just a component of our lives, but it deeply informs our identity. Though many say homosexuality/bisexuality is and should remain a private matter, such a reference belittles the impact that sexual orientation has on the social, economic, and intellectual aspects of our society. People can be categorized in many ways, such as by gender, race, religion, ethnicity, language, income, age, or sexual orientation. Unfortunately, these categories are sometimes used to label people unfairly or to saddle them with stereotypes. Stereotypes often form the basis of prejudice, a premature judgment about a group or a member of that group made without sufficient knowledge or thought. We can also develop prejudices towards a whole group based on a single emotional experience with one person. Prejudice demonstrates an unfair bias that does not allow for individual differences, good or bad. It violates the standards of reason, justice, and tolerance.

Many of today's prejudices have their roots in thousands of years of human history, such as the institution of slavery in America, and other biases are based on personal experiences and influences.

A tolerant society is more likely to engender mutual trust and cooperation. It lends itself toward a more peaceful society, insofar as we are willing to learn from others, we are more able to negotiate and compromise our differences. In a tolerant society, there is apt to be less cruelty, hypocrisy, and duplicity, less dogmatism, hatred, and fanaticism. In short, the principle of tolerance contributes to the common good and to a more humane society, and it is justified on pragmatic, consequential, and utilitarian grounds. Prejudice can be manifested in personal bias, discriminatory practices, and at its worst, acts of violence. Although we have made significant progress in eliminating discrimination, we still have a long way to go.

How can I count for the differences?

Americans remain less familiar with religious groups other than their own. This lack of knowledge can contribute to prejudice and discrimination against members of different religions. Religious tolerance means acknowledging and supporting that individuals have the right to their own beliefs and related legitimate practices, without necessarily accepting those beliefs or practices oneself. Ignorance often fosters intolerance. Sadly, religious leaders are sometimes the worst opponents of intolerance, advocating even hatred towards the followers of other religions. For example, perceptions of increased discrimination against targeted groups after 9/11 demonstrated greater observed discrimination against Arab and Muslim individuals. Psychologists and educators agree that adults have a strong influence on our children's views about diversity. If we remain silent, they will likely take their cue from other sources, not necessarily positive and healthy ones. You can help children develop their own attitudes towards cultural diversity by giving them accurate information about their own heritage and about other cultures and by helping them to understand that they are part and parcel of society development. It is important to promote a strong, positive self-image beginning in the first years of life. Building and maintaining a healthy self identity is a lifelong process that includes learning to get along with people who are different from ourselves. While it is fine to be proud of your own cultural identity or heritage, it doesn't mean that yours is superior to someone else's. Children need to be taught to respect others and not to pre-judge them. We can help them see that there is much to learn from people who are different from ourselves, including those who live far away or lived long ago. We must teach them to behave respectfully towards other people and make it clear that it is wrong to tease or reject a person because of his or her appearance or heritage. We must also make them understand that some people behave in harmful ways towards others, and that their behavior should not be tolerated.

Another problem is bias based on gender, race, disability, or social class.  This creates serious obstacles to all young children's healthy development. Children can begin to learn at an early age to resist bias and to value the differences between people as much as the similarities. We need to teach them how to challenge biases and let them know that unjust things can be changed and that they can help change them. Remember that children will model their behavior towards others. We need to set a good example, like those listed in the Ten Commandments in the Bible by teaching them to practice good behavior like treating others with respect and avoiding the use of stereotypes by generalizing other ethnic groups as bad. Make it clear that prejudice is wrong. Don't allow unacceptable comments against others, even if the comments came from respectable friends or family members, it should not to go unchallenged.  If we endow our children with both healthy self-esteem and respect for those who are different from themselves, we help them grow into adults who will celebrate diversity.

Another serious weakness is that however, despite the significant and increasing number of immigrants and American born individuals who have at least one immigrant parent who are starting to identify the United States as their home, it is not yet clear whether the United States as a society is willing and ready to fully embrace and accept them and whether the definition of who is truly American is inclusive enough to reflect the country's growing pluralism. These visible differences easily identify them as outsiders, potentially increasing their risk of facing discrimination and prejudice.

Another problem is regard to the societal disadvantages African Americans have had and continue to have more than their share a history of slavery segregation and job ceilings. They continue to lack of economic opportunity, poor schools, and the related problems of broken families and social isolation. As author Scott put it, “we come into this world naked physically, socially and culturally- culture has to be learned: it is not part of our biological makeup, but our biological makeup makes culture possible” (Scott, 2005).  From this quote culture is the value, beliefs, behaviors and material objects that together form a person's way of life human and moral respect. Moral is a product of values, while values are standards by which people defines good and bad, beautiful and ugly. Values underline our preferences guided our choices and indicate what we hold worthwhile in life. Values help to define the character of our culture, but they do not provide specific course of action. Racial distinctions are a way of classifying people with certain characteristics. As I have shown before, the race is social construction used by societies to rank people. African Americans are drawn from a diverse range of culture and countries in Africa. Discrimination due to ethnic background has probably been the case and still is the case in the U.S. These differences are observed as connected to the form of society and how society is formed in the U.S as a form of identity.

Americans hold these values. Indeed, the founding fathers believed so strongly in Americans' endorsement of these values that they declared it a self-evident truth. Values that are important to a culture guide how members of that cultural group should lead their lives and are at the center of association of many cultural practices. Values are conceptions of what is preferable, desirable, or important. Such knowledge makes up a shared reality and provides individuals with a frame of reference to make sense of their social experiences as well as valuable cultural resources that individuals appropriate in their cultural identification process. One of the key ways to change oneself as a cultural being is to learn to understand culture and cultural interaction in new ways when there is a problem.  There is a need to engage a respectful dialogue in which they clarify the values, appreciate that some cultures may express a value in a manner different from how it is expressed in Western cultures, and seek therapeutic solutions that satisfy both their own professional values and the values of the other group.

Conclusion

I believe that culture determines what is right or wrong. Conflicts of culture can occur when the beliefs and habits of one cultural group come to dominate the norms of the other groups, making it difficult for members of other groups to be included, understood, and to attain success. We are living in one of the most diverse country in the world, the United States of America. Globalization, immigration, and demographic diversity now present many challenges in the realm of communication and understanding across cultures in the United States. I propose that one role in the field of psychology is to promote an understanding of multicultural by looking cross cultural settings and to serve in an educative role.

Historically, we are aware that our founding fathers of the United States defined America by its core values. They claimed equality, human rights, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as America's core values. This definition of America was targeted as an asset to comfort people from various cultural heritages and give them the ability to value one's own cultural commitments and to be comfortable with those who do not share those convictions and practices. This ease with cultural difference is a mark of the profound maturity that allows one to be fully committed to a way of life without prejudice against another group.                

Through the multicultural education, we need to ignore and find a way to discard the myth that White Americans enjoy more power and higher status than other ethnic groups,  hence are the ones who owning the nation, whereas ethnic minorities sit at the margin of American society. Let us fight more for American culture which places strong emphasis on choice. Let us fight more for an American culture where people value their freedom to choose and care about what they choose. The 2008 American presidential election has shown the way- that there is nothing impossible in America.

As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once predicted, “ I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character."  Let us fight more for this picture of America.

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