It is 2021 and most people would believe that inclusion and equality in America would be easily shown and spread throughout the country; however, that couldn’t be farther from the truth in my opinion. As a young white, straight, female American citizen, I would never personally try to understand what any minority groups go through such as African Americans, Hispanics, any other racial/ethnic groups, the LGBTQ+ community, and so many more. Even though I am not a member of any of these groups, that doesn’t mean I cannot listen, love, appreciate, and respect each community as these people are human and live on this earth in the same country that I do. Representation and inclusion in America for these minorities are at an all-time low, and riots, protests, and even murders are at an all-time high.

How does the color of a person’s skin affect someone else who may or may not be of the same race or ethnicity of that person? It doesn’t, and it shouldn’t. As a person who is active on social media, who communicates with people in their community, does research, and even looks at different people’s perspectives, I still come to the same conclusion. There is a very little amount of inclusion and equality shown in our country as a whole when it comes to people who are not white. Living in a small town like Corry, PA, with a low population, we are not as aware of the acts of racism and issues around us unless we do our own research, reach out to people in other cities/states, or travel and educate ourselves. Recently there has been over a thousand African Americans who have been murdered just because they were in their own homes or doing everyday things. Jogging, sleeping in their own bed, going to the store, riding in the car with their loved ones, and so many other regular humane things that only they would be found suspicious for doing because of the color of their skin. How is this okay and what are we doing about it? As the United States of America, shouldn’t we all be included and accounted for while receiving the same equal rights no matter what race we are?

With this, not only do racial/ethnic minority groups get discriminated against, but the inclusion and equality involving the LBGTQ+ community is also severely lacking. Today, most people define a “normal relationship” as only it being made up of a man and woman, but who says what is “normal” and what isn’t? Who has the right to say who you can and cannot love? Even though I myself am not apart of the LGBTQ+ community, I am aware, respectful, considerate, proud, and also sympathetic towards the community and all its members within. In my opinion, as long as the person of any gender is happy and in a healthy relationship, (whether it is with themselves or others,) I am happy and supportive towards them.

All of these minority groups have received and seen hate and destruction but are still brave, proud, and stand up for who they are and what they believe in. As American citizens they too respect our country even if they have been given the worst treatment. Society today seems to define being a different race/ethnicity other than white and/or being a member of the LGBTQ+ community as “different” or “weird.” But personally I believe they are the ones who are afraid of change and afraid of an increase in any amount of positivity toward these groups. Times have passed and people have grown. We are one United States of America, one human race, and one Earth together.