Diversity of any kind in society may be viewed in different ways. Some members of the majority (whether ethnic, religious, racial, linguistic or other) may perceive minorities as potentially threatening to their previously homogeneous identity. Although from its inception the US has been constituted by people from varied backgrounds, acceptance of “the newcomers” and of “the Other” was not always easy. For example, intra-Christian tensions in the early years (e.g. between pro- and anti-establishment Protestants; later between Protestants and Catholics) were followed by suspicion of Jewish immigrants, and later of newcomers of other religious traditions (e.g. Hinduism, Islam etc.)
Diversity can also be perceived as a source of strength and richness in a society. Positive valuing of difference (or, moving from acknowledging plurality to embracing pluralism) means that one sees the heterogeneity of the population as different reflections of the human experience which can all contribute to enriching the common good. In other words, we can all learn from those who are significantly different from us – and not regard them as potentially dangerous because of “taking away” our own identity.
Minority rights in the US today are negotiated within the context of great diversity, in light of the historical developments in the civil rights and women’s movements, and on the basis of the US Constitution.
