Segregation in the United States - Essay Example

In the two articles, Minority Student Clubs: Segregation or Integration? and Why America is Self-Segregating, both authors address critical issues that have, for decades, affected the functionality and union of the United States. While each author addresses a unique topic in their respective article, the contents of each seem to agree on quite a number of issues that should be addressed by the institutions involved. For instance, the authors in the two articles agree that the United States is a diverse nation defined by the uniqueness of different social groups, including their respective cultures (Moro). However, despite being a diverse nation, the United States has failed to implement robust measures to address the rapidly growing divisions and segregations between the minority groups and other groups in the land through its respective institutions and administrative heads. Also, in both articles, the authors agree that while efforts are evident in some institutions to create a cohesive environment that nurtures and promotes collaboration and unity among the distinct social groups in the United States, divisions persist (Boyd). Particularly, in schools, for instance, the established social clubs have only attracted the minority groups creating a strong bond among themselves while widening the gap between them and other social groups (Moro). In communities, the internet, mainly social media, was projected to be a central component in positively restructuring the interactions between diverse social groups (Boyd). Unfortunately, social media has acted as a threat to society’s solidarity, considering its divisive nature propagated through hates speech and stereotypes. In other words, despite the efforts put in place by different institutions, the authors agree that more divisions are highly likely until robust and strategic measures are implemented and integrated into the United States’ systems of operations. Therefore, to address the segregation issues in the United States, government and other stakeholders need to develop strategic and inclusive platforms and initiatives that accommodate the diverse needs and cultures that define the country.

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Moro and Boyd agree that failed social systems are at the heart of a divided and segregated United States society. The two authors further state that the segregation aspect is rapidly rising, considering how institutions such as the military and campuses are run and managed (Boyd). For instance, in the military, privatization has drastically affected its recruitment and training elements locking out individuals from diverse social groups who could be interested in working in such a critical and organized group (Boyd). Today, the United States’ military only recruit individuals with skills and competency that align with its operations and core objectives. In other words, the military has, over the years, promoted segregation by only hiring and recruiting skilled and competent individuals who can easily work in groups. Other interested entities are frustrated and left out chiefly because of their diverse nature and skills that do not complement the military's operations and functions.

Educational institutions such as universities and colleges have also played a major role in widening the social gap between whites and minority groups, as Moro and Boyd confirm. Essentially, schools have, for decades, worked on their inclusion and diversity aspects to accommodate students from diverse social and ethnic backgrounds. However, as both authors agree, the embraced social structures have facilitated segregation amongst the students while encouraging increased homogenous teams and social groups. Cross-cultural interactions are on the decline as learners interact with individuals with similar ethnic profiles and backgrounds.

In the two articles, both authors agree that while schools are instrumental for learners to develop solid and resourceful social networks, the embraced structures have betrayed the willingness and desire to nurture and appreciate cross-cultural interactions and diversity. During admonitions at various colleges, freshmen use social apps such as Myspace and Facebook, to foster divisive interactions while using the platforms and the available admission data to establish matching profiles, including social and ethnic backgrounds. As such, students frequently switch their roommates and replace them with others within their cultural lines.

In most cases, segregation on campuses would start as early as after one received their admission letters and access to the institution’s social platforms. In other cases, cross-cultural interactions are shutdown through the established minority clubs in different institutions. Ideally, minority social clubs are established to foster long term relationships amongst students both within and across the diverse social groups (Boyd). However, in contrast to the primary motive, such as social groups nurture and facilitate homogenous relationships that discourage cross-cultural interactions while encouraging segregations as much as possible.

While Moro and Boyd agree on quite a number of issues pertaining to segregation in the United States, they disagree on others based on their experience and stands. According to Moro, higher education's primary objective is to instill knowledge and foster long-term relationships through profound social networks established amongst the learners. Although Moro believes that the established social clubs in different institutions are central to the rapid segregation rate in the United States, she also believes that such social groups play a significant role in promoting cultural loyalty and immersion.

Unlike Moro, Boyd believes that such groups are structured inappropriately and incompetently to address minority groups' issues. Boyd believes colleges, among other educational institutions, play a significant role in facilitating the segregation aspect, particularly through their found ways of handling and addressing issues (Boyd). For instance, Boyd notes that while educational institutions such as colleges assign learners to their respective rooms during admissions, little is done to ensure that such assignments are hid to enhance and encourage diversity amongst the students.

Also, unlike Moro, Boyd claims that while colleges are primarily established to instill knowledge and promote diversity across the diverse social groups, they are instrumental in discouraging cross-cultural interactions. In other words, although schools are committed to promoting cross-cultural interactions, Boyd asserts that colleges have been reluctant to enact and implement robust measures to enhance the cross-cultural interactions, which are critical to creating an inclusive environment for education and networking.

From the arguments, it is evident that society is split along cultural and ethnic lines, which education has failed to rectify. Particularly, the advancement and incorporation of social media in different educational institutions has further heightened and widened minority groups' segregation. Therefore, colleges and other educational institutions should establish elaborate and profound measures of controlling learners’ interaction and, more importantly, encourage interactions built across cross-cultural and ethnic lines. Enactment and implementation of such measures would ensure that students learn to adapt and interact with others both in the closed classroom and outdoor learning. Overall, while the United States is acknowledged as a diverse nation, proper measures through educational institutions should be put in place to nurture cross-cultural interactions that consequently yield long term relationships.

Works Cited

Boyd, Danah. "Why America Is Self-Segregating". Medium, 2017, https://points.datasociety.net/why-america-is-self-segregating-d881a39273ab. Accessed 24 Sept 2020.

Moro, Gabriela. "Fresh Writing". Freshwriting.Nd.Edu, https://freshwriting.nd.edu/volumes/2016/essays/minority-student-clubs-segregation-or-integration. Accessed 24 Sept 2020.