It seems that Jim
Crow had an easy answer for labeling people. I thought that we
were supposed to be trying to move beyond that. Labels promote
focusing on how we are different rather than how we are alike. Assimilation is
what has made the United States different from any other nation
in recent recorded history.
Why must we continue
to put labels on people? Why not just American?
Until we drop the hyphen-monikers we
will continue to promote a society divided by birth appearance
rather than a society that acknowledges one's membership in
it. As long as we attempt to carve up our society on skin tone,
we will continue to call each other racist or generalize
to stereotypes.
Some people exploit
labels to foster adversity between citizens and create a base
of political power for themselves. Ironically, these individuals
will resist this effort to create a "colorblind" society.
Such individuals frequently point their fingers at others and
cry "racist"
but they don't look into the mirror at what they in fact represent.
Doing away with labels would definitely threaten their political
power.
I thought that
if I were born in the USA, I could consider myself a "native".
Labels are not fair to the children of multiracial couples. This should be reason
enough for dropping this question on applications, census forms,
and the like.
Think about it. Why
not just American? That's
not so radical. It will enable us to look to the future rather than
bog down in the past. What do you think?
Why not just American?
