In October 2019, a controversy erupted in Maplewood, New Jersey over a teacher’s attempt to remove a hood from the head of a child who is an observant Muslim. The story, by Tracey Tully, appeared in the New York Times and was covered by several local news outlets in New Jersey.
The Times article includes a wide range of perspectives: community members, parents, students, and educators. The lawyers for each party highlighted how excessive commentary on social media confused the facts and sensationalized local reactions. Khadijah Costley White, an assistant professor of media studies at Rutgers University, noted, there are “dividing lines around race and religion and identity that we have yet to really tackle in substantive ways”.
Tully’s reporting revealed how the interaction between the Muslim student and the white teacher gave voice to a broader, more generalized tension between different groups living in Maplewood, a suburban town that is majority-minority, with median household income of about $150,000. Comments by Times readers seemed to reflect the same lack of consensus reported among Maplewood residents. Some readers questioned the teacher’s actions, and some defended them. Some comments focused on individuals’ right to exercise religious beliefs and some questioned if the incident was really about religion at all.
On the most basic level, the story highlights the problems that result when there is a lack of mutual respect and understanding among individuals in a diverse society.
To her credit, Tully demonstrates a willingness to explore the issue from a variety of perspectives. She does what David Von Drehle recommends: she avoids telling people what to think. Her writing reflects the diversity of perspectives and experiences she found in the community, something that is key to good journalism. News stories that are fair and complete, neutral in their point of view, and that provide a thorough exploration of the facts, benefit society. They focus attention on important facts and highlight significant issues affecting society. Rational, well-informed explorations of issues and events, especially those related to diversity and difference, help foster a more inclusive and harmonious society.
The events in Maplewood, Tully’s story, and public reaction lay bare a sad truth: people in America have a hard time with diversity and difference. It doesn’t matter if the difference is due to race, gender, religion, socio-economic status, education, country of origin, ethnicity, or any other label used to describe people. The conversation about diversity and difference is a difficult one for Americans to have.
One cause of Americans’ collective inability to engage in constructive discussions of difference: politics. A 2019 Pew research study found that the degree to which people value diversity in the workplace varies by political party. Another study found that Americans prefer to avoid people whose political views differ from their own. These findings suggest that the ever-increasing polarization of American politics will likely result in more intolerance and less understanding in American society.
There is, however, some cause for hope. Younger Americans demonstrate more willingness to understand and respect diversity. A recent study found that Millennials and Gen Z professionals are generally uninterested in working for organizations that do not promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. If these trends continue, it is possible that future generations of America will be more open to, and respectful of, diversity. Given that a person who displays positive attitudes about diversity can affect tolerance for diversity among others, older American’s may benefit from their workplace interactions with Millennials and Gen Z professionals.
Another positive indicator: research has shown that living in diverse neighborhoods fosters more inclusive social identities. Inclusive social identities are positively correlated with prosocial behavior towards others. As the United States slowly moves towards becoming a more racially diverse society, the number of diverse American neighborhoods should continue to increase. More diverse communities whose members have more inclusive social identities could mean more Americans will be willing to understand, respect and help each other.
Despite Maplewood’s diverse demographics, it seems that social identities in that community are still quite polarized. Tully’s story shows us that America still has a long way to go in terms of becoming a society where people seek to understand each other and are respectful of differences. In Maplewood, and across the United States, the reaction to the student-teacher interaction was divisive.
In order for a society to become more just, inclusive, prosocial, and equal, individuals must seek to understand those who are different from them. We must be willing to learn about others’ customs, beliefs, and traditions and demonstrate greater respect and acceptance. In short, we’d be well-served by approaching issues of diversity with the same objectivity and curiosity Tully showed in her reporting.
Had residents in Maplewood attempted to apply some of the practices of good journalism, the resulting interactions may have been less combative and more constructive.
When each person makes an individual choice to reject discrimination and promote equality, society can transform itself into something better. That’s not to say we should not point out examples of systemic racism, bias, and prejudice. We should. But once the problem has been identified, the responsibility falls to each individual to be the change they wish to see in the world. We have a collective responsibility to pursue understanding and promote acceptance if we aspire to live in a society that values each person’s humanity.