Discrimination In The United States

There are many factors that contribute to discrimination, but I've found that the continuation of an “Us versus them” mentality is the strongest. The problem with this mentality is that it feeds into itself easily and causes some of the harshest reactions from people on each side. In places like America where we have a strong individual identity, there is already a clear line for people to divide themselves. There can be slight cultural differences even among fellow Americans. Each state is highly unique, and even within the states there is variation between how people act and what they find acceptable. Some of the most common ways people divide themselves is by wealth, skin color, sex, orientation, religion, health, or political movement. There are also plenty of …show more content…
Current events often feed into dividing lines. If there were only stereotypes to feed prejudice, it could lack intensity in some areas. However, when a member of one group does something against a member of their opposing group, tensions flare up. There can be victim blaming, or the twisting of facts, but both sides will feel wronged. The side who had a member attacked may feel that this is proof how the other side is hateful towards all of them and how they possibly even approve of this or are all the same. The side the attacker was from may be angry that they are being grouped in with someone they might think was a rogue, and that the other side is pushing this narrative in order to have an excuse to hate them, which often causes resentment and apathy about the well being of members of the other group. That this will always happen is a less popular opinion than that some groups are inherently bad in the heat of the moment. It is foolish to think that prejudice and discrimination can go away. It is easy enough to say that we should not divide ourselves or make snap judgments, but difficult to