The Critical Core
The Critical Core
Multiculturalism is a philosophy emphasizing cultural maintenance and offers many valuable insights for the eradication of racial tensions. It also is a philosophy that can inhibit the development of value consensus because of the multiple sets of values that can emerge. And developing value consensus is a must if racial unity is to become a viable reality in the United States. This chapter draws on some preliminary research to explore what the Americans' core values might look like. In doing so, it takes the initial steps toward envisioning a set of values that can unify all Americans. It discusses the results of a study of multiracial organizations asking members of different races about their insights as to what can unify Americans. Their answers provide clues as to which values may transcend racial division within our society. The chapter first discusses the American identity, why a common core is needed, African Americans and their ideas about freedom, and what the core concept of freedom means.
Keywords: United States, multiculturalism, identity, common core, multiracial organizations, racial division, African Americans, freedom
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