Gains From Differences

Danny Wong

Reading Blog

Response to Higher Education Diversity Benefits Our Communities

In the article “Higher Education Diversity Benefits Our Communities” it focuses on the topic of the benefits that come along with diversity. The article points to the Proposition 209 commonly known as affirmative action and what it really does to the school system. The article presents some benefits of implementing prop 209 because of potential benefits that students gain. Quoting from the article “one important study found that college seniors who interacted more frequently with students of other races exhibited the following patterns, “Black students’ contact with Asians was related to improved attitudes toward Hispanics and Whites, and their interactions with Hispanics and Whites were both related to improved attitudes toward Asians.” I cannot say that due to interactions between races could enhance attitude toward other races, but in my experience I see having a diverse group of friends can truly be beneficial. It can raise cultural awareness among the group and eventually expand the knowledge of each other’s ethnic background. These are the types of benefits that communities gain when the presence of diversity is around.

Question: In your life, have you benefited from meeting people of other races or even being friends with people that are of other ethnic background?