By Richard Cohen
In the article "A generation Of Bigots Come of Age" by Richard Cohen in the writers response book, He talks about the reasons why the generation of thirty years and younger are developing bigoted attitudes. In the article Richard Cohen explains why he thinks the generations are becoming more ignorant. A study conducted by ADL (Anti-defamation league) found that recently that the information regularly collected has changed. The research shows that the younger generation is becoming more and more intolerant of other races .In the study it showed that older and younger white Americans now have the same opinion of other races. Although no one knows for sure what is happening, He has a couple of ideas on why the younger generation is becoming ignorant.one of those reasons is that the younger generations are very ignorant of recent American history. This is because these generations did not see the events that happened through the 1950's and 60's.Even though the younger generation is ignorant of American history that is not the only factor that is making them intolerant. There is also affirmative. When the ADL was doing its study they asked a group of people "do you feel you have ever been a victim of reverse discrimination in hiring or promotion”, about 21% said yes. But they found the more schooling a person has that percentage increased up to 26% for college graduates and 23% for people with post graduate degrees. Richard says that “too many of the American Elite are racially aggrieved”. This data shows that society is going backwards on their racial intolerance. And the final argument is affirmative action programs although they are good at helping with some things they are also doing some bad things.
When I read this article I was a little confused I thought the world was moving past differences. But I think this article has a lot to with the area in which they look and how diverse in different cultures it was.to be completely honest I think I was intolerant of other races until i came to Inver hills and experienced all the different cultures .I don’t think we can expect people to be tolerant of other cultures unless they interact and see different races on a day to day basis .Because the people who are intolerant don’t know anything else .I think parents of white American children shelter their children too much and spoil them to make them think that they are better than anyone else. These kids need a new flash they are not any better we are equal and they don’t have any right to look down on someone just because of they have a different skin color i think that we are moving back ward and i think one of the reasons that was included in the article is when we turn on the T.V it’s not talking or showing all the problems that people are having and their emotions on difference like we used to with martin Luther king. Even though America has a "black president" we all still can’t see we are equals .What else is going to have to happen for the American society to see that?
You make a good point on how a majority of white American parents shelter their children and the results that has on the children. I believe that a lot of prejudice attitudes are due to parenting. My parents are somewhat racist. When I was younger, my parents always told me that blacks were no good. As I grew older, I eventually became smarter than my parents and realized that everyone is equal. Many kids out there do not come to the same realization that I had and remain having a racist attitude towards other races due to their parents. I also believe that certain races that always stick together are more prone to being racist towards other races than their own. As you have said, some white American kids are around each other more, so they can get uncomfortable when they are around other races than their own. The same goes for other races. If African Americans stick together for most of their childhood, then they will be uncomfortable with other races and may even build some hatred towards other races due to their history.
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