The Search for Common Ground
Gary Michael Tartokov said, “There is a civilization searching for its humanity.” We are constantly searching for what can make us more humane. And it’s needed now more than ever.
Let me explain. Research reveals the following:
Even though our nation is becoming progressively more diverse and by the year 2041, people of color will be the majority—we are still for the most part highly segregated.
The average White resident lives in a neighborhood that is 71% White, whereas the average Black resident lives in a neighborhood that is 45% Black, and the average Latino resident lives in a neighborhood that is 47%
Latino.
We don’t have to look any further than our own neighborhoods to see this diversity disparity.
As humans, we have a natural tendency to want to be around people who share our identities, but when we self-segregate, there’s so much we miss out on.
When I first moved to Washington DC, one of the things I most appreciated about the District was its diversity—what I didn’t appreciate was its segregation. It didn’t take me long to see how palpable it was riding the metro to and from work.
30% of Americans are not mixing with people of a different race—this includes coworkers, friends, and relatives.
40% of White Americans are surrounded exclusively by friends of their own race.
How are we going to relate to and identify with people we don’t live around?
Segregated life experiences prevent us from relating to the people around us.
Let’s find some common ground. Join us for the next Community Conversations.
