The Weight of James Arthur Baldwin

The fact that Rachel Kaadzi Ghansah was the first black intern at Harper's goes to show the lack of diversity that's still around. It brought out the fact that not much has changed. We live in a world where whites are the majority and everyone else who isn't is a minority. For Ghansah, the symbolaized the lack of representation. This led to an inner struggle for her because she started to wonder whether she got the internship because she was genuinely worthy of it, or if it was just because she was black. It discredits all her accomplishment that got her too where she was. It shouldn't have mattered what color Ghansah's skin was but at work, she couldn't seem to forget it. In her essay she says, "It was then that I was smacked with the realization that the walls weren't the only unusual white entities in the office- the editorial staff was strangely all white as well." (Ghansah 19)

It is vital that not just mainstream US publications have black editors, but that all other jobs represent them as well. Diversity brings people together by teaching them about different cultures, religions, backgrounds, and experiences. We learn about someone else's perspective, not just our own. It is important to be exposed to different types of people and learning to accept them. I think that if society doesn't see people of their race in these important positions, it develops this culture that it's because they can't reach that level of success. A little girl at school who see's a teacher who's black like her deserves to feel inspired that one day, if she wants, she can be a teacher too. A teenage boy should get to see the first black president the United States and feel excited that he has the chance to be one himself. Diversity, inclusivity, and knowledge is essential.