Cultures Collide

From African American, to Asian American, etc…, each essay describes each culture’s view on society and their view on what society thinks or brings to them. Each viewpoint shows each culture’s different struggles, i.e. how Asians are all categorized as a single race in both Japanese and Chinese essays, and how the Mexican son would grow up to be a “bigot” in people’s eyes. Having each perspective really brings the cultures closer together, bringing every race down to an even level. Although not apparent to most people, race discrimination and race issues occur to everyone. I can relate to the Chinese story, not having a great background in Chinese language itself, yet always being looked at as discretely “Asian”. Presently, finding any “non-speaking” Asians is hard enough, but finally viewing a story on it and the racism taking place is even rarer. I can not expect all people to know that my own last name is Chinese, but how one judge another person so quickly without knowing them? Race discrimination is out there, with each race receiving their respective negative connotations, but what can be done about it? Is it possible to get to know every single person of a race, to know each person’s interests and tendencies? No, it is not, and that is why race discrimination and hate occurs. There are always exceptions to the general stereotype, but it is impossible to judge if a person acts that why solely by looks. Reading these articles, each showing their own problems in society, slowly start to converge on a theme of prejudgment and the wronging of the individual. What can we do to change this? Stereotypes do not change soon, as with Arabic people still being discriminated against today 5 years after 9/11, or even blacks still discriminated thirty-plus years after the end of segregation. Only time will tell…