Question

Write and present an explanatory essay about how the perspectives of others — people of a different race, religion, culture, or gender — can teach us something about ourselves. You may focus on a specific group of people or cover several different examples as long as all the information you present supports a central claim.

Answer 1

I have a couple of ideas for this prompt. I should be on tomorrow and can discuss this with you if you'd like. Curious to know if you already have anything in mind.

Answer 2

Yeah when you are on, let me know I have a couple things written

Answer 3

A theme that I follow in my life, is that everyone has something to offer. This revolves around experience - as many often judge others by their intelligence or looks, but if you treasure experience, then you value every human being. In the realms of race, religion, culture, and gender, there is a wealth of varying and differing experiences that result directly or indirectly from being present in that realm.

African Americans still experience racism, although I wouldn't agree with those that would call it systematic. Quite strangely and disturbingly, there has also been racism against Caucasians in recent years. Whether it be 'white privilege' or the demand for reparations, we've seen white people experiencing something unlikely and unprecedented.

Racism in particular focuses on what I believe we should do about labels, and it's that we shouldn't let them define us, nor should it be what shapes our experiences. Sadly, this is still a fact. But following in accordance with your prompt, observing this provides for moments in which we can learn.

I believe a major one you could start with is morality, as that applies to each of the categories. No matter what color or creed you are, you shouldn't tear people down for it. Again, following in accordance with your theme, the perspective of people from certain races, religions, cultures, or genders, has resulted in some immorally based actions.

In accordance with race, we've seen racist cops against black and brown people (but again, not systematic, just individuals). Also, there have been cases of Asians being penalized through affirmative action and/or college programs, whereas they do not get in, but someone with the exact same grades, but different race, gets in.

Religion - look at Christianity, which is dropping in numbers within the United States. You can correlate this with culture, and how it's increasingly more sexualized and immoral.

In regards to gender, or rather, sex, there has been individual examples of sexism in both directions(women -> men and men -> women). You can also talk about gender roles, and how growing up in a culture/religion defines how one must act, due to their sex.

Answer 4

^mostly random thoughts/rantish. Let me know if you have any questions so I can hone it in more.

Answer 5

Mostly just throwing out ideas for the essay.