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Diversity in the United States 0
Diversity in the United States
Gilbert C. Sheppard III
ETH/125 Final Project
May 16, 2015
University of Phoenix

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Introduction
The United States population is changing in demographics faster today, than it has in 100
years. According to the book; Racial and Ethnic Groups, “between 2010 and 2050 the Black,
Hispanic, Asian, and Native American portion of the population in the United States is expected
to increase from 36 percent to 54 percent” (Schaefer, R, 2012, p.4). This increase also involves
mass immigration within the demographics of our country. A few of these reasons for these
changes are trends, challenges, and benefits to our diversity, the media’s support, or the Media’s
prejudice toward these changes.
According to the Census Bureau reported by CNN in 2008, by the year 2050, European
Americans will be the minority. What is interesting to point out is that “European Americans will
make up only 46 percent of the U.S. population by 2050, down from the current level of 66
percent. The bureau goes so far to suggest the European American group is projected to lose
population in the 2030s and 2040s” (Broughton, 2008). Native Americans and Polynesian
Americans will slightly rise to 2% of the population while Asians will advance from 5.1% to
9.2%. The fastest growing race will be Hispanics which will total 132.8 million. The Census I
Bureau has predicted the population in 2050 will increase to 439 million people.
Challenges to our Diversity
Before the Founding Fathers established the United States of America and our form of
government, there were challenges in diversity with the original inhabitants; Native Americans.

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Since the founding of the Jamestown Colony in Virginia and the Spanish Colony in St.
Augustine, Florida, Europeans deemed Native Americans subordinate and even subhuman. They
were not willing to understand the new country of North America’s ancient culture. With the
shipment of African slaves from Africa and the massive numbers of European immigrants
coming into the country, we failed to have the common respect and appreciation of each other’s
cultures only until the early twentieth century. From this point on, diversity has been slowly
moving in a forward direction through education, local, state, and federal laws, and mutual
respect for each other as Americans. The biggest awakening in diversity began during the Civil
Rights era beginning in 1955, and in the summer of 1963, the largest diversity march began in
Washington D.C. “Between 75,000 and 95,000 White Americans joined predominantly black
crowds to support their fellow Americans for Civil Rights” (Thompson, 2013). Although there
will always be challenges in diversity, 1963 proved different racial societies can come together
as one large group and stand up for liberty for all mankind no matter a person’s race.
Benefits of a Diverse Society
There are many benefits to a diversified society. Being diversified endorses human
values, improves businesses, creates different talents, and the exchanging of innovative ideas.
Promoting diversity in business improves productivity which results in higher profits. This in
turn promotes humanistic values. According to BenefitOf.net (2015), “the people of the
organization think that their value and worthy contributions are being realized by the
organization and the management” (para 2)

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The result is employee’s become more productive and the business becomes more successful in
profits. Being able to create different talents in a diverse atmosphere to include business
produces outstanding innovation and viable complements to a society. Diverse groups or
individuals learn from each other and ideas are shared to progress forward in life, business, or
everyday society.
Media’s Support
Today, there are numerous media outlets and open source websites which support numerous
minority issues, histories, and educational forums. For example, there are 35, 080 results on the
peer viewed entry on the University of Phoenix Library site. There is also Media support which
recognizes health issues for African Americans. One interesting article was on the recruitment of
African Americans for medical research to assist future African Americans in leading healthier
lives and dissolve racial differences. “The investment return for the expanding minority outreach
can dramatically increase if that expansion includes strategies for a closer, personal, and more
trusted outreach to venues such as black churches and community health partnerships”(Sanders,
2011).
According to the University of Phoenix Social explorer student (2015), “Mississippi
alone had 989,681 African Americans in the 2000 Census living below the poverty line”. Having
this many people living in poverty means it’s necessary to give assistance (food, housing, etc.)
for aid as well as medical treatment.

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Medical research through Media channels is extremely important for African Americans
especially when heart disease, stroke, and diabetes are leading killers affecting this society and
increasing in the upper forty percentile.
Media’s Prejudice
There are two different Medias today, one liberal and one conservative, and each which have
played a key role in changing the diversity of society. From the beginning of newspapers in our
country to the present, media has swayed the public with half-truths, not fully factual information
and taking sides with either liberal or conservative propagandized ideals. Both have the influence
to divide rather than bring harmony in diversity to our society. The latest issues affecting
Baltimore, Maryland Ferguson, Missouri, and Hattiesburg, Mississippi has been reported
irresponsibly blaming local, state, and federal authorities which has divided racial societies and
provoked more violence due to the Media's’ endeavoring quest to make the story.
According to different poles, Caucasian Americans feel disenfranchised mainly because
of Media frenzy on race relations and the negative portrayals they feed society through our
viewing technologies. Cubias, (2011) relates; “A recent poll found that 61% of Tea Partiers
identified "discrimination against whites as being just as big as bigotry aimed at blacks and other
minorities" (para 7).

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The latest news reported on May 11, 2015, referring to the latest violence was Michelle
Obama’s speech to the graduating students at Tuskegee University. Gayle (2015) states;
“They’re rooted in decades of structural challenges that have made too many folks feel frustrated
and invisible, and those feelings are playing out in communities like Baltimore and Ferguson and
so many others across this country” (para. 18). With the crowd mainly African American
cheering, law abiding European American’s are asking the question: why do these issues have to
be pointed at their race? There seems to be an ongoing finger pointing issue every time an
incident between black and white happens and tends to be counter-productive rather than
productive.
Working Together
As America becomes more diversified, being able to work together to have a successful
community becomes one in our county’s priorities in order to be prosperous. Wood (2003)
perceives that “Diversity sees itself as a tool for knocking down the door to exclusive enclaves-
colleges, workplaces, churches, organizations of all sorts” (para 8). Although all races, cultures,
and ethnicities maintain a different heritage, respecting these distinctions in other people is
always the first step to resolve issues and come together as one society.
Everyone can begin to work together by establishing multi-cultural organizations to
achieve collaborative activities to reach diversity concepts and an agreed goal.
Organizations can begin surveys to better understand the issues within different communities.

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Learning about the key issues, joint projects for charity in those communities can be surveyed
and developed. This is not only learning interdisciplinary skills, but forming cohesion with
diverse societies. Working together brings great benefits and forms good working relationships.
Conclusion
As the United States, in constantly increasing demographic trends, challenges, and
benefits to our diversity, we have the chance to change through education, programs, business,
and Media support and/or Media prejudice. From the beginning of our country to present day,
the demographics of society and also the advance of education in diversity is also steadily
improving to develop the greatest multi-cultural society in the world. Understanding the distinct
changes in our society and educating ourselves about these projected changes stated by the
Census Bureau will better prepare us for the challenges which lay ahead. Therefore, it is up to
all Americans to realize we all have a part in our country’s diversity; the challenges, trends, and
media portrayal for the future.

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References
BenefitOf.net. (2015). Benefits Of Cultural diversity. Retrieved from
http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-cultural-diversity/
Broughton, A. (2008). Minorities expected to be majority in 2050. Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/13/census.minorities/
Gayle, D. (2015). Michelle Obama: I was 'knocked back' by race perceptions. Retrieved from
http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/may/11/michelle-obama-i-was-knocked-back
-by-race-perceptions
Sanders, P. R. (2011). Increase african american enrollment. Applied Clinical Trials, 20(1),
42-42,44,46,48,50. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/855014462?accountid=458
Schaefer, R. (2012). Racial and ethnic groups. Retrieved from
http//www.ecampusphoenixedu/schaefer,r.ETH125
Thompson, K. (2013). In March on Washington, white activists were largely overlooked but
strategically essential. Retrieved from
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/in-march-on-washington-white-activists-
were-largely-overlooked-but-strategically-essential/2013/08/25/f2738c2a-eb27-11e2-802
3-b7f07811d98e_story.html
Unversity of Phoenix. (2015). Social explorer student. Retrieved from Unversity of Phoenix,
http.//www.ecampusphoenixedu/SocialExplorerStudent
Wood, P. (2003, Mar). "Diversity". The American Spectator, 36, 52-60. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/198603326?accountid=458