Racial Equality - Free Essay Samples And Topic Ideas

Racial equality refers to the absence of racial discrimination and inequality, and the equal opportunity and rights for people of all races. Essays could discuss the historical struggle for racial equality, the current state of racial relations, or strategies to promote racial equality and combat racism. A vast selection of complimentary essay illustrations pertaining to Racial Equality you can find at Papersowl. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Importance of Education and Racial Equality in America

At a very young age, Thurgood Marshall's parents emphasized the importance of education and always encouraged him to think and learn. Alongside his school making him memorize parts of the U.S. Constitution at an early age, this set him up to become the ambitious Associate Justice of the Supreme Court and its first African-American justice ("Thurgood Marshall Biography"). In this text, I will cover what Thurgood Marshall accomplished in his life and how what he did was significant for racial […]

The Civil Rights Era and the Vietnam War for the USA

The Vietnam War was a conflict between North and South Vietnam with regards to the spread of communism. The communist North was supported by other communist countries while the South was supported by anti-communist countries, among them the United States. In South Vietnam the anti-communist forces faced off against the Viet Cong, a communist front. The involvement of the United States in the Vietnam War was ironical by the civil rights movements because despite their fight for democracy abroad and […]

Martin Luther King’s Defendence in Letter

"In his “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. writes to defend himself against the Clergymen’s accusations in which he explains his motives for his civil rights demonstrations and strives to justify the desperate need for such nonviolent action in the south, such as in Birmingham. Throughout the passage, King’s audience was primarily the Clergymen, but he also strives to resonate with white moderates and the public. Through the masterful use of rhetorical and literary devices to fortify […]

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Rosa Parks and her Impact on the African-American Community

Jim Crow laws were a set of state and native statutes that legalized segregation that occurs during the late 19th century early 20th century. The Jim Crow laws are almost like the Black Code because the black code was strictly local and state laws that detailed when, where, and the way formerly enslaved people could work, and for how much they were paid. The codes were widely recognized throughout the South as a legal acknowledgment to put African-Americans through involuntary […]

Booker T. Washington and the Reconstruction Period

In the late 19th century, at the end of the Reconstruction, the country was forced to face that the measures to reconstruct the country had failed, and more importantly, terror on Blacks in the South had become worse than ever. This had begun to be a time when Blacks were separated from Whites by Jim Crow laws, forced into debt by the sharecropping system, lynched daily, and painted as murderers, rapists, intellectually inferior, and all around immoral. Many white southerners […]

Racial Discrimination Since Civil War Till Now

Racial discrimination has been an issue in this country since the beginning of the Civil War and up to this time. Slaves were brought in this country to meet the growing demand of labor for plantation farming of tobacco and cotton. They were brought here not just to be enslaved in plantation farming but also to be treated as " indentured servant ". In Senator Barack Obama's speech " A More Perfect Union " which was delivered on March 18, […]

About Institutional Racism

Introduction In order to to come to a resolution with any problem, one has to first state and understand that which they’re dealing with. Institutional racism, as defined by Oxford University Press, (2017) is racial discrimination that has become established as normal behavior in a society or organization. In our society there is a speech/and unspoken awareness of structural racism/ethnic discrimination in every aspect of life in America. As stated by Anonymous (2015) “it's (institutional racism) a demon that America […]

Martin Luther King and Racial Inequality

Racial inequality has been a problem in America for many decades. In the 1950s and 1960s, the American Civil Rights Movement, led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., became the largest deterrent to this dilemma. It brought more equal opportunity for African Americans, in terms of employment, housing, education and voting rights. This made an immense impact to the future of America, bringing a close unity for American citizens. But lately there has been a burgeoning conflict within the country's […]

Civil Rights Movement Debate: American Culture and Ideas

The civil rights movement lasted roughly a decade and was a tremendous struggle that took place for African Americans to receive the same constitutional and legal rights that other Americans already enjoyed. This was a time where many white people truly believed they were a superior race and acted out violently towards African Americans simply due to the color of their skin. A period where black people dealt with discrimination, violence and prejudice against them at an alarming rate. Something […]

Alain Locke’s “The New Negro”: Redefining Black Identity in the Great Migration

Summary of Alain Locke's "The New Negro" The New Negro' had the primary duty of being equal to the white race. Blacks changed their complete appearance as a result of the Great Migration influence. Alain Locke is an American writer, philosopher, educator, and arts patron. He received his education from Harvard and Oxford University and is esteemed as the first Black Rhodes Scholar. Locke is also famous for the writing of "The New Negro". Alain Locke's essay, "The New Negro" […]

How do Labor Systems Relate to Gender and Racial Inequalities

The period between the 1820s and the 1920s was characterized by industrialization and expansion in the urbanization sector. By 1920, most Americans resided in cities. Technology innovation promoted the acceleration of industrialization during this period. Other factors such as changes in the social and political systems, and an increasing need among Americans to support economic growth in the country also promoted development. Industrialization relied on the division of labor, which entailed breaking tasks into smaller jobs and working with machines […]

The Power and Legacy of Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t i a Woman?”

Sojourner Truth's speech "Ain't I a Woman?" stands as a timeless testament to the intersectional struggle for both gender and racial equality. Delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Rights Convention in Akron Ohio this speech encapsulates the resilience and determination of a Black woman challenging societal norms and advocating for equal rights. Truth born into slavery as Isabella Baumfree transformed her personal hardships into a powerful narrative that continues to resonate through history. In her speech Truth addresses the pervasive […]

The Transformative Power of 1960s Social Movements

The 1960s were a decade of unprecedented social change, driven by movements that challenged deeply rooted injustices and reshaped the societal landscape. These movements were not just isolated struggles; they were interconnected waves of activism that left a lasting impact on American society. Among the most influential were the Civil Rights Movement, the Women's Liberation Movement, and the Anti-Vietnam War Movement. Each of these movements had unique objectives and methods, yet all shared a common desire to create a more […]

The Impact of the March on Washington: a Milestone in Civil Rights

The Protest March in Washington for Employment and Liberty, convened on the 28th of August, 1963, is frequently acclaimed as a pivotal juncture in the annals of the American civil rights crusade. Showcasing Martin Luther Adam King Jr.’s iconic "I Have a Dream" proclamation, the march sought to spotlight the glaring disparities endured by African Americans concerning economic and societal equity. Nevertheless, beyond the memorable declarations and the massive assembly, evaluating the efficacy of the march necessitates an examination of […]

If Martin Luther King Jr. were Alive Today: Imagining his Continued Influence

If Martin Luther King Jr. were alive today, he would be 95 years old. Reflecting on his hypothetical age, we can imagine how his wisdom and guidance would continue to shape the ongoing struggle for racial equality and social justice. King's life was tragically cut short at 39, but his legacy endures, providing a beacon of hope and inspiration for generations to come. King was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia, during a time of pervasive racial segregation […]

The Concept and Implications of Colorblind Racism

The concept of colorblind racism delineates a modern iteration of racial prejudice that feigns ignorance toward the significance of race in human existence and choices. This ideology advocates for the notion that eradicating discrimination entails treating all individuals with parity, irrespective of their racial, ethnic, or chromatic attributes. Nonetheless, this perspective often overlooks the entrenched systemic disparities persisting within society, inadvertently perpetuating racial injustice. The notion of colorblindness in societal frameworks gained prominence notably during the post-civil rights era, notably […]

The Courage and Legacy of the Little Rock Nine

The tale of the Little Rock Nine embodies unparalleled valor and tenacity. In the year 1957, nine African American scholars made a stance against scholastic segregation by enrolling at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. This act of defiance against entrenched racial segregation norms in the American South marked a pivotal juncture in the Civil Rights Movement. These nine scholars—Elizabeth Eckford, Ernest Green, Jefferson Thomas, Terrence Roberts, Carlotta Walls LaNier, Minnijean Brown Trickey, Gloria Ray Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed Wair, […]

The Radical Republican Plan: Shaping Reconstruction and Civil Rights

Following the Civil War, a crucial epoch unfolded in American annals, characterized by endeavors to reconcile the nation and assimilate myriad liberated slaves into the socio-political fabric of the land. The Radical Republicans, a contingent within the Republican Party, wielded substantial sway during this juncture with a blueprint aimed at profoundly reshaping Southern society through assertive reforms and stringent oversight. Their approach to Reconstruction was both audacious and contentious, charting a trajectory with enduring repercussions on civil liberties and the […]

Jackie Robinson’s Legacy: Baseball, Civil Rights, and Unyielding Resilience

Jackie Robinson is primarily recognized as the inaugural African American to breach Major League Baseball’s racial divide in 1947, a monumental feat that reverberated well beyond the confines of the baseball diamond. His achievements as both an athlete and a trailblazer transcend mere athletic prowess and encapsulate the unyielding struggle for civil liberties and egalitarianism in the United States. Robinson's enduring legacy is characterized by his athletic excellence, the barriers he dismantled, and his unwavering resilience in the face of […]

Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit”: the Haunting Lyrics and their Historical Context

Billie Holiday's performance of "Strange Fruit," a song written by teacher and activist Abel Meeropol, stands as one of the most powerful musical statements of the 20th century. Released in 1939, the song's chilling lyrics and mournful melody captured the harrowing reality of lynching in the American South, drawing attention to the profound racial injustices and violence faced by Black Americans. The lyrics, stark and uncompromising, conveyed this gruesome truth in a way that forever etched them into the collective […]

Deciphering Society through the Racial Dot Map: a Visual Exploration

The Racial Dot Map emerges as a powerful tool in the digital age, offering a visual exploration of demographic patterns and racial distribution across various landscapes. Developed by the University of Virginia's Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, this map uses a simple yet effective visual representation: one dot per person, color-coded by race. This straightforward approach unveils complex narratives about segregation, integration, and diversity within communities, providing insights that are as compelling as they are revealing. At first glance, […]

In the Footsteps of Giants: the Enduring Impact of the Congress of Racial Equality

When we talk about the Congress of Racial Equality, or CORE, we're diving into the heart of the civil rights movement—a saga of grit, determination, and the unyielding pursuit of justice. Founded in 1942, CORE wasn't just another organization; it was a collective of ordinary people who stood up against the towering injustice of racial segregation in America. They believed deeply in the power of nonviolent protest, drawing inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy to challenge a system entrenched in discrimination […]

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Racial Equity Essays

Racial justice and equality, unpacking ab 12: impact on socioeconomic justice and racial equity in foster care, popular essay topics.

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Racial Equality Essays (Examples)

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Racial Equality And Justice

To chief diversity office, frederick douglass civil reforms in united states.

McCarthy, Thomas. Race, empire, and the idea of human development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2009.

Race And Ethnicity In The US Military

Booker t washington argumentative comparison, bell hooks on mass media, criminology theory, brown v board of education and civil rights moment by michael klarman, education law policy and social justice.

Sahin, I. (2018). A look at mother tongue education in the context of the right to education. Educational Research and Reviews, 13(9), 343-353.

Technology Divorce And The Impact Of Social Inequality On Marital

Related topics.

  • Racial Discrimination
  • Racial Bias
  • Racial Stereotypes
  • Gender Equality

Category Topics

  • Social Policy
  • Stereotyping
  • Multinational
  • Islamophobia

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sample essay on racial equality

May 8, 2024

The Diversity Essay: How to Write an Excellent Diversity Essay

sample essay on racial equality

What is a diversity essay in a school application? And why does it matter when applying to leading programs and universities? Most importantly, how should you go about writing such an essay?

Diversity is of supreme value in higher education, and schools want to know how every student will contribute to the diversity on their campus. A diversity essay gives applicants with disadvantaged or underrepresented backgrounds, an unusual education, a distinctive experience, or a unique family history an opportunity to write about how these elements of their background have prepared them to play a useful role in increasing and encouraging diversity among their target program’s student body and broader community.

The purpose of all application essays is to help the adcom better understand who an applicant is and what they care about. Your essays are your chance to share your voice and humanize your application. This is especially true for the diversity essay, which aims to reveal your unique perspectives and experiences, as well as the ways in which you might contribute to a college community.

In this post, we’ll discuss what exactly a diversity essay is, look at examples of actual prompts and a sample essay, and offer tips for writing a standout essay. 

In this post, you’ll find the following: 

What a diversity essay covers

How to show you can add to a school’s diversity, why diversity matters to schools.

  • Seven examples that reveal diversity

Sample diversity essay prompts

How to write about your diversity.

  • A diversity essay example

Upon hearing the word “diversity” in relation to an application essay, many people assume that they will have to write about gender, sexuality, class, or race. To many, this can feel overly personal or irrelevant, and some students might worry that their identity isn’t unique or interesting enough. In reality, the diversity essay is much broader than many people realize.

Identity means different things to different people. The important thing is that you demonstrate your uniqueness and what matters to you. In addition to writing about one of the traditional identity features we just mentioned (gender, sexuality, class, race), you could consider writing about a more unusual feature of yourself or your life – or even the intersection of two or more identities.

Consider these questions as you think about what to include in your diversity essay:

  • Do you have a unique or unusual talent or skill?
  • Do you have beliefs or values that are markedly different from those of the people around you? 
  • Do you have a hobby or interest that sets you apart from your peers? 
  • Have you done or experienced something that few people have? Note that if you choose to write about a single event as a diverse identity feature, that event needs to have had a pretty substantial impact on you and your life. For example, perhaps you’re part of the 0.2% of the world’s population that has run a marathon, or you’ve had the chance to watch wolves hunt in the wild.
  • Do you have a role in life that gives you a special outlook on the world? For example, maybe one of your siblings has a rare disability, or you grew up in a town with fewer than 500 inhabitants.

sample essay on racial equality

If you are an immigrant to the United States, the child of immigrants, or someone whose ethnicity is underrepresented in the States, your response to “How will you add to the diversity of our class/community?” and similar questions might help your application efforts. Why? Because you have the opportunity to show the adcom how your background will contribute a distinctive perspective to the program you are applying to.

Of course, if you’re not underrepresented in your field or part of a disadvantaged group, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have anything to write about in a diversity essay.

For example, you might have an unusual or special experience to share, such as serving in the military, being a member of a dance troupe, or caring for a disabled relative. These and other distinctive experiences can convey how you will contribute to the diversity of the school’s campus.

Maybe you are the first member of your family to apply to college or the first person in your household to learn English. Perhaps you have worked your way through college or helped raise your siblings. You might also have been an ally to those who are underrepresented, disadvantaged, or marginalized in your community, at your school, or in a work setting. 

As you can see, diversity is not limited to one’s religion, ethnicity, culture, language, or sexual orientation. It refers to whatever element of your identity distinguishes you from others and shows that you, too, value diversity.

The diversity essay provides colleges the chance to build a student body that includes different ethnicities, religions, sexual orientations, backgrounds, interests, and so on. Applicants are asked to illuminate what sets them apart so that the adcoms can see what kind of diverse views and opinions they can bring to the campus.

Admissions officers believe that diversity in the classroom improves the educational experience of all the students involved. They also believe that having a diverse workforce better serves society as a whole.

The more diverse perspectives found in the classroom, throughout the dorms, in the dining halls, and mixed into study groups, the richer people’s discussions will be.

Plus, learning and growing in this kind of multicultural environment will prepare students for working in our increasingly multicultural and global world.

In medicine, for example, a heterogeneous workforce benefits people from previously underrepresented cultures. Businesses realize that they will market more effectively if they can speak to different audiences, which is possible when members of their workforce come from various backgrounds and cultures. Schools simply want to prepare graduates for the 21st century job market.

Seven examples that reveal diversity

Adcoms want to know about the diverse elements of your character and how these have helped you develop particular  personality traits , as well as about any unusual experiences that have shaped you.

Here are seven examples an applicant could write about:

1. They grew up in an environment with a strong emphasis on respecting their elders, attending family events, and/or learning their parents’ native language and culture.

2. They are close to their grandparents and extended family members who have taught them how teamwork can help everyone thrive.

3. They have had to face difficulties that stem from their parents’ values being in conflict with theirs or those of their peers.

4. Teachers have not always understood the elements of their culture or lifestyle and how those elements influence their performance.

5. They have suffered discrimination and succeeded despite it because of their grit, values, and character.

6. They learned skills from a lifestyle that is outside the norm (e.g., living in foreign countries as the child of a diplomat or contractor; performing professionally in theater, dance, music, or sports; having a deaf sibling).

7. They’ve encountered racism or other prejudice (either toward themselves or others) and responded by actively promoting diverse, tolerant values.

And remember, diversity is not about who your parents are.  It’s about who you are  – at the core.

Your background, influences, religious observances, native language, ideas, work environment, community experiences – all these factors come together to create a unique individual, one who will contribute to a varied class of distinct individuals taking their place in a diverse world.

The best-known diversity essay prompt is from the  Common App . It states:

“Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.”

Some schools have individual diversity essay prompts. For example, this one is from  Duke University :

“We believe a wide range of personal perspectives, beliefs, and lived experiences are essential to making Duke a vibrant and meaningful living and learning community. Feel free to share with us anything in this context that might help us better understand you and what you might bring to our community.” 

And the  Rice University application includes the following prompt:

“Rice is strengthened by its diverse community of learning and discovery that produces leaders and change agents across the spectrum of human endeavor. What perspectives shaped by your background, experiences, upbringing, and/or racial identity inspire you to join our community of change agents at Rice?”

In all instances, colleges want you to demonstrate how and what you’ll contribute to their communities.

Your answer to a school’s diversity essay question should focus on how your experiences have built your empathy for others, your embrace of differences, your resilience, your character, and your perspective.

The school might ask how you think of diversity or how you will bring or add to the diversity of the school, your chosen profession, or your community. Make sure you answer the specific question posed by highlighting distinctive elements of your profile that will add to the class mosaic every adcom is trying to create. You don’t want to blend in; you want to stand out in a positive way while also complementing the school’s canvas.

Here’s a simple, three-part framework that will help you think of diversity more broadly:

Who are you? What has contributed to your identity? How do you distinguish yourself? Your identity can include any of the following: gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, disability, religion, nontraditional work experience, nontraditional educational background, multicultural background, and family’s educational level.

What have you done? What have you accomplished? This could include any of the following: achievements inside and/or outside your field of study, leadership opportunities, community service, internship or professional experience, research opportunities, hobbies, and travel. Any or all of these could be unique. Also, what life-derailing, throw-you-for-a-loop challenges have you faced and overcome?

How do you think? How do you approach things? What drives you? What influences you? Are you the person who can break up a tense meeting with some well-timed humor? Are you the one who intuitively sees how to bring people together? 

Read more about this three-part framework in Episode 193 of Accepted’s Admissions Straight Talk podcast or listen wherever you get your favorite podcast s.

sample essay on racial equality

Think about each question within this framework and how you could apply your diversity elements to your target school’s classroom or community. Any of these elements can serve as the framework for your essay.

Don’t worry if you can’t think of something totally “out there.” You don’t need to be a tightrope walker living in the Andes or a Buddhist monk from Japan to be able to contribute to a school’s diversity!

And please remember, the examples we have offered here are not exhaustive. There are many other ways to show diversity!

All you need to do to be able to write successfully about how you will contribute to the diversity of your target school’s community is examine your identity, deeds, and ideas, with an eye toward your personal distinctiveness and individuality. There is only one  you .

Take a look at the sample diversity essay in the next section of this post, and pay attention to how the writer underscores their appreciation for, and experience with, diversity. 

A diversity essay sample

When I was starting 11th grade, my dad, an agricultural scientist, was assigned to a 3-month research project in a farm village in Niigata (northwest Honshu in Japan). Rather than stay behind with my mom and siblings, I begged to go with him. As a straight-A student, I convinced my parents and the principal that I could handle my schoolwork remotely (pre-COVID) for that stretch. It was time to leap beyond my comfortable suburban Wisconsin life—and my Western orientation, reinforced by travel to Europe the year before. 

We roomed in a sprawling farmhouse with a family participating in my dad’s study. I thought I’d experience an “English-free zone,” but the high school students all studied and wanted to practice English, so I did meet peers even though I didn’t attend their school. Of the many eye-opening, influential, cultural experiences, the one that resonates most powerfully to me is experiencing their community. It was a living, organic whole. Elementary school kids spent time helping with the rice harvest. People who foraged for seasonal wild edibles gave them to acquaintances throughout the town. In fact, there was a constant sharing of food among residents—garden veggies carried in straw baskets, fish or meat in coolers. The pharmacist would drive prescriptions to people who couldn’t easily get out—new mothers, the elderly—not as a business service but as a good neighbor. If rain suddenly threatened, neighbors would bring in each other’s drying laundry. When an empty-nest 50-year-old woman had to be hospitalized suddenly for a near-fatal snakebite, neighbors maintained her veggie patch until she returned. The community embodied constant awareness of others’ needs and circumstances. The community flowed!

Yet, people there lamented that this lifestyle was vanishing; more young people left than stayed or came. And it wasn’t idyllic: I heard about ubiquitous gossip, long-standing personal enmities, busybody-ness. But these very human foibles didn’t dam the flow. This dynamic community organism couldn’t have been more different from my suburban life back home, with its insular nuclear families. We nod hello to neighbors in passing. 

This wonderful experience contained a personal challenge. Blond and blue-eyed, I became “the other” for the first time. Except for my dad, I saw no Westerner there. Curious eyes followed me. Stepping into a market or walking down the street, I drew gazes. People swiftly looked away if they accidentally caught my eye. It was not at all hostile, I knew, but I felt like an object. I began making extra sure to appear “presentable” before going outside. The sense of being watched sometimes generated mild stress or resentment. Returning to my lovely tatami room, I would decompress, grateful to be alone. I realized this challenge was a minute fraction of what others experience in my own country. The toll that feeling—and being— “other” takes on non-white and visibly different people in the US can be extremely painful. Experiencing it firsthand, albeit briefly, benignly, and in relative comfort, I got it.

Unlike the organic Niigata community, work teams, and the workplace itself, have externally driven purposes. Within this different environment, I will strive to exemplify the ongoing mutual awareness that fueled the community life in Niigata. Does it benefit the bottom line, improve the results? I don’t know. But it helps me be the mature, engaged person I want to be, and to appreciate the individuals who are my colleagues and who comprise my professional community. I am now far more conscious of people feeling their “otherness”—even when it’s not in response to negative treatment, it can arise simply from awareness of being in some way different.

What did you think of this essay? Does this middle class Midwesterner have the unique experience of being different from the surrounding majority, something she had not experienced in the United States? Did she encounter diversity from the perspective of “the other”? 

Here a few things to note about why this diversity essay works so well:

1. The writer comes from “a comfortable, suburban, Wisconsin life,” suggesting that her background might not be ethnically, racially, or in any other way diverse.

2. The diversity “points” scored all come from her fascinating experience of having lived in a Japanese farm village, where she immersed herself in a totally different culture.

3. The lessons learned about the meaning of community are what broaden and deepen the writer’s perspective about life, about a purpose-driven life, and about the concept of “otherness.” 

By writing about a time when you experienced diversity in one of its many forms, you can write a memorable and meaningful diversity essay.

Working on your diversity essay?

Want to ensure that your application demonstrates the diversity that your dream school is seeking?  Work with one of our admissions experts . This checklist includes more than 30 different ways to think about diversity to jump-start your creative engine.

sample essay on racial equality

Dr. Sundas Ali has more than 15 years of experience teaching and advising students, providing career and admissions advice, reviewing applications, and conducting interviews for the University of Oxford’s undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition, Sundas has worked with students from a wide range of countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Pakistan, China, Japan, and the Middle East. Want Sundas to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch! 

Related Resources:

  • Different Dimensions of Diversity , podcast Episode 193
  • What Should You Do If You Belong to an Overrepresented MBA Applicant Group?
  • Fitting In & Standing Out: The Paradox at the Heart of Admissions , a free guide

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230 Equality Essay Topics: Gender, Racial, & LGBTQ Equality Essay Examples

Social equality title picture.

Social equality means showing equal treatment to all groups regardless of their age, race, gender, ethnicity, social class, sexual orientation, and other characteristics.

In 2024, people still experience discrimination in different spheres of life: career, private life, education, etc. Some types of discrimination are more severe, such as gender inequality or racial inequality.

In this article, our team guides you through writing an essay about equality. There also are plenty of topics on current issues for an argumentative, persuasive, or narrative essay. Don’t miss essay samples at the end of the page!

  • ✍️ 3 Writing Tips

⚖️ 203 Equality Essay Topics

♀️ gender equality essay, ✊🏽️ racial equality essay, 🏳️‍🌈 lgbtq equality essay.

  • 📝 Equality Essay Samples

🔗 References

✍️ 3 social equality essay writing tips.

Equality is not a simple topic – it requires much research, understanding of the context, and logic. You need to study a lot of information to clearly state your position in a gender equality essay, for example. At the same time, you should remain objective.

3 tips for an equality essay.

Equality Essay Writing Tip #1

Choose your essay topic carefully.

At first, brainstorm and define your best ideas. Then narrow them to a specific issue you want to discuss in your equality essay.

Here are the characteristics of a good topic:

  • It is not overused.
  • It is relevant.
  • It answers a specific question.
  • It is possible to find enough information about it.

Conduct a preliminary analysis to evaluate your topic. It will help investigate the chosen area and see if it matches the criteria.

Equality Essay Writing Tip #2

Outline and organize.

Order is everything. Planning your paper is obligatory for structured and logical writing. Here is what you need to include in each part of your essay:

  • Introduction. Describe the context and briefly overview the following paragraphs. The final sentence is a thesis statement that presents the fundamental ideas of your paper.
  • Body. Present the main points. Each paragraph should represent one aspect or argument of your study.
  • Conclusion. Summarize what you stated and synthesize the presented information. Repeat the thesis statement once again.

Equality Essay Writing Tip #3

Show your respect and tolerance.

It is vital to be polite when writing on topics such as “Relationship between Equality and Justice Essay.” Here are the main rules you need to consider:

  • Pay attention to your tone of writing. You need to be convincing but not aggressive or offensive.
  • Avoid generalizations. Don’t state that a group of people shares the same feature even if most of its members do.
  • Choose only credible sources. Reliable and accurate data is one of the ways to show your respect for the issue.

Now it’s time to find your perfect topic for an equality essay.

Pick the best one from the list below or use our free essay topic generator :

  • Racial injustice and its impact on employees.
  • What are the best platforms for social equality activism online?
  • Issues of gender inequality in employment.  
  • White like me: Race, racism & white privilege in America.
  • What are the main social equality issues in the United States?
  • Gender equality in Islam: Analysis.
  • Immigration and racism in Canada.
  • Discuss the prospects of fighting discrimination among teenagers.
  • Positive deviance applied to healthcare equality.
  • What are the economic benefits of human equality?
  • Should we care about income inequality? 
  • Environmental racism and justice.
  • How to start supporting equal rights if you are a teenager?
  • Equal protection of the laws: Case assignment.
  • What is your understanding of true equality?
  • Age discrimination in America’s human resource offices.  
  • Racism against Afro and Latino Americans in the US.
  • How does fighting discrimination affect sustainable development?
  • Equal opportunities and gender, age, and race.
  • Why are diversity and freedom of self-expression essential? 
  • Diversity management: equality and diversity issues.  
  • How racial segregation contributes to concentrated poverty in minority communities.
  • What are the most effective measures to reach equality in a short period?
  • Gender equality in the United Arab Emirates.
  • How to become a human rights activist in the United States?
  • American racial prejudice and racism.  
  • Issues of underserved racial and ethnic groups of people in education.
  • What are the main equality issues in Nepal?
  • Gender inequality in higher education settings.
  • How to be perfectly tolerant in the 21 st century?
  • Gender inequality issues analysis. 
  • The phenomenon of inter-racism in the society.
  • What are the similarities between racism and homophobia?
  • Gender roles and gender inequality in the workplace.
  • Define the connection between scapegoat theory and discrimination.
  • What are the differences in the concept of equality in education?  
  • Racial struggles in Detroit during the riots of 1967.
  • The difference between racism in African and Asian countries.
  • Globalization drives inequality: Liberalist and structuralist perspectives.
  • Why does intolerance cause physical aggression?
  • Causes of terrorism: Economic inequality and poverty.
  • Racial bias and racial profiling in law enforcement.
  • Income inequality as an outcome of discrimination.
  • Gender inequality in the workplace and career. 
  • Which anti-discrimination laws would make our society better?
  • Regional inequality of Yogyakarta.
  • Immigration and racial profiling and the role of law enforcement.
  • Describe the waves of the feminist movement and their effects. 
  • Equal consideration of human and animal interests.
  • What are the dangers of ageism in the workplace ?
  • Gender inequality in the family context.  
  • Incarceration rates among racial & ethnic minorities.
  • LGBTQ members in professional sports: The main challenges.
  • Degrees of inequality in the UK.
  • Do religions promote any kind of discrimination?
  • Discrimination of ethnic groups.  
  • Race and class and the criminal justice system in the US.
  • What are the unobvious types of discrimination every human can face?
  • Gender equality for students enrolled in colleges and universities.
  • In what ways does capitalism encourage discrimination?
  • What is the gender wage gap?
  • Policy: Overcoming racial profiling.
  • Is stereotyping a reason for discrimination in the United States?
  • Gender equality in higher education.
  • Wage gap as a form of discrimination in corporate culture.
  • The role of race in salary discrimination in the NBA.  
  • Racial tensions in contemporary America.
  • How does discrimination influence children’s mental health?
  • Symbolic interactionism and power inequality.
  • What are the effects of discrimination on scientific progress?
  • In what aspects do Hispanic Americans face discrimination?  
  • Racism impact on African-American communities in the US.
  • Discrimination against immigrants in European countries.
  • Social stratification andgender inequalities.
  • How does the sex industry promote gender discrimination?
  • History of Chinese Americans and their discrimination.  
  • Race and crime: Is there a correlation?
  • Describe the impact of affirmative discrimination in the United States.
  • Economic inequalities in the modern United States.
  • The difficulties transgender people face in the healthcare system.
  • Racial discrimination in the US Justice system.  
  • The problem of racism in the US.
  • How do social media influencers address discrimination?
  • Social inequalities and child’s well-being.
  • Why are people afraid to report discrimination against them?
  • The cases of discrimination in the educational sphere. 
  • Why racial profiling should be banned.
  • What can history teach us about the harmful effects of discrimination?
  • Should gay couples have equal adoption rights as straight couples?
  • How to make infrastructure more accessible for disabled people?
  • Discrimination as a reason for police brutality.  
  • Women and LGBT rights: Evolution and comparison in the US.
  • The cases of religious discrimination in the United States.
  • Discriminatory practices and learning disability .
  • Bullying and harassment based on appearance.
  • Work-life balance: legal support and discrimination.
  • LGBTQ Students’ experiences of bullying in schools.
  • Outbreaks of discrimination as a result of political conflicts.
  • The problem of discrimination in nursing .
  • Describe the causes and effects of body positivity movement.
  • Same-sex marriage: liberty and equal protection.  
  • The gay rights movement in the US in the 20 th century.
  • Is preventing discrimination more efficient than fighting it?
  • The difference between equal employment and equal opportunity.
  • Do we need to apply higher taxes to wealthy people?
  • A response to discriminative healthcare practices in the US.
  • Women and glass ceilings in the hospitality industry.
  • Tell about your experience of being a victim of discrimination.
  • Social inequalities in health and illness in Britain.
  • What would our society be like without any forms of discrimination?
  • The critical points of equal employment opportunity.
  • Saudi women’s rights and position in society.
  • What art pieces promote discrimination, and what should we do with it?
  • Racial discrimination practices in recruitment and selection.
  • The forms of discrimination among politicians.
  • Equal access to health care.
  • Prevalence of violence against women by an intimate partner.
  • What are the reasons for reverse discrimination in the United States?
  • Avoiding wage discrimination based on gender.
  • Describe the situations when we discriminate against people unconsciously.  
  • Gender bias in professional sports.  
  • The right of Saudi Arabian women to drive a car: Challenges and implications.
  • Define the career difficulties women face in the United States.
  • What are the gender prejudices in society today?  
  • What are the challenges of gender equality activism in India?
  • Gender roles and norms in early world history. 
  • Rape and violence against women: Cultural indoctrination.
  • How does gender discrimination affect mental health?
  • Gender and race discrimination at workplaces.
  • What is internal gender discrimination?
  • Gender differences in life and at the workplace.
  • Development of women’s rights in the United Arab Emirates.
  • What challenges did the participants in the #Metoo movement face?  
  • Criminal justice discrimination: Foster v. Chatman.
  • In what areas of life is the gender gap the most prominent?
  • Gender inequality and maternal mortality studies.
  • Ethnic minorities’ equality issues in the graduate labour market.
  • Victim blaming is a part of gender discrimination.
  • Gender discrimination at work in the United States.
  • What is your opinion about gender equality prospects?
  • Gender differences in communication.  
  • Cultural, ethnic, and gender differences at the workplace.
  • What are the main challenges for women in professional sports?
  • Gender discrimination against females in public and work places.
  • How to teach the importance of gender equality in primary school?
  • Gender and education in developing countries.  
  • Diversity in the workplace: Advantages and challenges.
  • What are the main achievements of the feminist movement?
  • Discrimination in the criminal justice system.
  • What is your understanding of the term “gender equality”?
  • How are gender roles formed?
  • Compare gender equality issues in the United States 50 years ago and now.
  • Is there a need to change old paradigms of gender roles in society?  
  • Racism against Chinese people caused by the Coronavirus pandemic. 
  • Stereotypical experiences and discriminatory behavior.
  • What do we have to do to eliminate racial discrimination?
  • Racial issues within a particular community.  
  • Compensation and workforce diversity issues.
  • How do racists justify their positions and beliefs?
  • Resolving the problems of poverty and income inequality.
  • What are the effects of racism in the workplace?
  • Workplace gender compensation discrimination – Dollar General Corp.
  • How to prevent outbreaks of racism aggression in schools?
  • What are the different aspects of racial discrimination?  
  • What social groups’ members tend to be racist more than others?
  • Assessment of how the EU law influenced UK’s equal pay law.
  • How is racism depicted in modern cinematography?
  • Racism and discrimination: The church vision and teaching.
  • What is the influence of racism on modern society?
  • Racial profiling in the United States.  
  • Bullying among children because of racial discrimination.
  • Gender workplace discrimination.
  • Does race influence your behavior or character traits?
  • Gender discrimination and pay gap in the workplace.
  • What are the reasons for internal racism?
  • Perspectives of American cultural, racial, and ethnic diversity.  
  • The racial stereotypes we need to eliminate.
  • Discrimination against minority groups, races, and ethnic groups.
  • The risks of ignoring racism as a social problem.
  • Discrimination of homosexual persons in the workplace.  
  • Exclusion, inclusion, and segregation in the US.
  • Should same-sex marriage be allowed in Islam countries?
  • Gender pay discrimination at the workplace.
  • How to ensure freedom of expression among LGBTQ members?
  • The necessity of legalization of same-sex marriages.  
  • Can you be a member of the LGBTQ community and a religious person simultaneously?
  • Racial discrimination of African Americans during Jim Crow’s era.
  • What is the difference between sexual orientation and sexual behavior?
  • Should same-sex couples be able to adopt children? 
  • How is the perception of LGBTQ men and women different?
  • Equal opportunities for students with disabilities.
  • The laws we need to protect the rights of LGBTQ people.
  • Institutional discrimination and racism.
  • The most impressive speeches of LGBTQ supporters.
  • Adult sexuality and the role of hormones.
  • How should families support LGBTQ children?
  • Ethical dilemma and racism in healthcare leadership .
  • In which countries do laws still criminalize homosexual and transgender people?
  • Private for-profit and nonprofit organizational leaders: Gender inequality.
  • What are the recent advances achieved by the LGBTQ community?
  • Racial and cultural inequities in health.
  • How has the LGBTQ community changed cultural norms?
  • Gender inequality in higher education.

Now we will focus on writing a social equality essay on the most popular topics.

Here, we will start with gender discrimination.

Essay on Gender Equality: Prompts

Let’s discuss the main issues to describe in an essay on gender equality:

🧑‍🎓 You can discuss access to qualitative education, well-paid jobs, and a chance to fulfill the potential in any life sphere.
🚫 Focus on domestic violence or sexual harassment. You can also write about psychological pressure and bullying.
🦸‍♀️ While some countries have reached impressive results in empowering women, others need much attention. You can describe the situation in Arab countries, South Asia, or Africa.

Gender Equality Essay Topics

Take a look at these essay titles for a gender equality essay:

  • Is it possible to reach total marriage equality? Evaluate the legal side of a marriage and the distribution of responsibilities. 
  • Why is gender equality in the workplace important? Do companies benefit from hiring women to top positions? 
  • Gender and labor. How has gender division of labor changed throughout history? What were the historical and ideological factors?
  • How can feminism address transgender equality issues? Describe the problems that transgender people face and how feminism fights them. 
  • In what spheres do men have more opportunities than women? Discuss particular professions or educational paths. 
  • The concept of gender . What are the social meanings of gender? What do femininity and masculinity have to do with it? 
  • What are the most popular misconceptions about gender equality? Debunk the popular stereotypes about feminists and their values. 
  • How will men benefit from women’s empowerment? Describe the social and economic advantages of equal opportunities for men and women. 
  • What are the most surprising outcomes of gender discrimination? Discuss your experience or find unexpected consequences of the issue. 

As in the previous passage, we prepared some writing prompts and a list of racial equality essay topics.

Let’s take a closer look.

Essay on Racial Equality: Prompts

Here are some writing prompts for social equality essay on racism:

👨🏾‍💼 Describe how the labor market has changed: what are the achievements and the problematic areas? You can also focus on black women’s career prospects.
🧑‍🎓 The average incomes of people of color are different from white people’s. Therefore, many families cannot afford good colleges for their children. Discuss the means that can help to resolve the issue.
🗣️ Some people face rude behavior in daily life because of their skin color. Suggest the ways we can fight this social inequality problem.

Racial Equality Essay Topics

We also prepared some topics for your racial equality essay:

  • What are the recent achievements of anti-racism activists? Discuss the accomplishments and goals of people who fight racism.
  • Does being white guarantee having privileges in American society? Support your opinion with research data or personal experience. 
  • Black women’s struggles in the workplace. What challenges do women of color face in the labor market?  
  • What are the most prominent examples of racism in Asian countries? Find some situations that illustrate such behavior and use them as evidence.
  • How does your origin influence your career prospects in the USA? Describe the hardships people might face in the educational and corporate spheres.
  • What is the connection between poverty and race in the United States? Provide some statistics and highlight the existing problems.
  • What role did the Civil War play in the development of racial relations in the US? Discuss the contributions the Civil Rights movement has made.
  • What are the roots of racism in the United States? Discuss the problem from a historical perspective.
  • The impact of the Black Lives Matter movement in the USA . Discuss the positive and the adverse outcomes of the campaign. 

Now it is time to draw attention to LGBTQ equality and the community’s issues.

You will find writing prompts and topics on LGBTQ equality here.

Essay on LGBTQ Equality: Prompts

🩸 Describe the reasons for violent behavior and discrimination towards LGBTQ persons. Provide your solutions to the problem.
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Define the reasons for such opinions and suggest ways to fight them. You can write about educating children on equality or making corporate culture more tolerant.
👨‍👨‍👧 Discuss the specificities of raising a child by same-sex parents. Explain your position on this matter using research data as evidence.

LGBTQ Equality Essay Topics

Choose your topic from the list below:

  • What are the psychological benefits of coming out? Describe the positive sides of being open about your identity.
  • The main goals and challenges of LGBTQ activists. List the current issues they try to address and the problems they face. 
  • The importance of queer activism. How does involvement in LGBTQ activism influence the social life of participants?
  • How does making a coming out influence your career? Discuss the possible advantages and disadvantages of this decision.
  • Compare the challenges of the LGBTQ community fifty years ago and now. You can describe the achievements and changes in society using this perspective.
  • What are the main reasons for homophobia? Explain why some people tend to be homophobic and what the reasons are.
  • Sexuality as a social issue. Discuss how the construct changes with time. Which developments has it already undergone?
  • What are the main misconceptions about the LGBTQ community? Write about popular stereotypes and debunk them.
  • What are the main challenges non-binary people face? Discuss the difficulties they have to deal with daily or particular discrimination cases.

📝 Equality Essay Examples

And here are essay samples on equality. As both are less than 300 words, you can use these examples as a structure reference or inspiration for your work.

What Is the Relationship between Equality and Justice Essay

When discussing equality and justice, it is better to start with the definitions. These terms have different meanings, leading to a misunderstanding of their relationship. As for me, the connection between equality and justice in society is about receiving the same opportunities and treatment for all people. In terms of equality, it is impossible to reach its whole meaning in modern society. We are born in different families, with specific talents and unique experiences. The only thing that matters is that people should have equal rights regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and other factors that might cause discrimination. Justice means that everyone gets what they deserve. If a child is smart enough to get to a good college but cannot pay for it, they should get financial aid. If a person is a great professional, they should receive the job they apply for. In such a way, these people would move progress and economy forward. If we connect these two terms, we will see that they have many in common. Equality means that the same opportunities are available to everyone. Justice means that people who deserve something because of their talents and hard work get it. In conclusion, equality and justice should go hand in hand if we want to live in a discrimination-free society. Giving everyone equal chances to succeed and live whole lives is fair and beneficial for progress.

Gender Equality in Sports Essay

Gender equality in sports has reached some achievements. As for now, around 40% of all sports participants during significant sporting events are women. Even if this number is close to half, there are still issues to address, including unequal media coverage, income differences, and stereotyping in sports. Women receive less media coverage than men do. Women’s sports get only four percent of all sports reports in media. While all types of media follow demand and create it, women need more attention and coverage to draw attention to their careers and achievements and earn more money. Women should be paid equally for their effort and achievements. They try as hard as men and spend the same amount of time training. Here’s just one of the many examples to consider. The US Women’s National Soccer Team won the 2015 championship. They received three times less money than men who didn’t even make it to the finals. Even if football seems to be a sport created for men and by men, we should still value time and effort equally. Some sports are considered feminine or masculine , creating gender barriers for women. For example, the media presents football as a manly sport. At the same time, such sports as gymnastics and figure skating are feminine sports according to popular stereotypes. We need gender equality in sports to help women build careers and be more motivated. If women are paid, respected, and presented by the media equally, sports careers would be more rewarding for them.

We hope this article was interesting for you!

Now you have 150 equality essay topic ideas and some tips for writing an essay. Feel free to ask any questions below in the comments or via email. Also, check the list of additional materials we’ve collected for you.

We wish you lots of inspiration and the best grades.

  • Equality – Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
  • Social Justice Definition
  • 20 Facts About U.S. Inequality that Everyone Should Know – Stanford Center on Poverty and Inequality
  • The US Inequality Debate
  • Rising inequality affecting more than two-thirds of the globe: new UN report | | UN News
  • Gender equality | UNICEF
  • Racial equality | Pew Research Center
  • Sexual Orientation and Human Rights – University of Minnesota
  • Equality and discrimination – International Labour Organization

Human Rights Careers

5 Essays to Learn More About Equality

“Equality” is one of those words that seems simple, but is more complicated upon closer inspection. At its core, equality can be defined as “the state of being equal.” When societies value equality, their goals include racial, economic, and gender equality . Do we really know what equality looks like in practice? Does it mean equal opportunities, equal outcomes, or both? To learn more about this concept, here are five essays focusing on equality:

“The Equality Effect” (2017) – Danny Dorling

In this essay, professor Danny Dorling lays out why equality is so beneficial to the world. What is equality? It’s living in a society where everyone gets the same freedoms, dignity, and rights. When equality is realized, a flood of benefits follows. Dorling describes the effect of equality as “magical.” Benefits include happier and healthier citizens, less crime, more productivity, and so on. Dorling believes the benefits of “economically equitable” living are so clear, change around the world is inevitable. Despite the obvious conclusion that equality creates a better world, progress has been slow. We’ve become numb to inequality. Raising awareness of equality’s benefits is essential.

Danny Dorling is the Halford Mackinder Professor of Geography at the University of Oxford. He has co-authored and authored a handful of books, including Slowdown: The End of the Great Acceleration—and Why It’s Good for the Planet, the Economy, and Our Lives . “The Equality Effect” is excerpted from this book. Dorling’s work focuses on issues like health, education, wealth, poverty, and employment.

“The Equality Conundrum” (2020) – Joshua Rothman

Originally published as “Same Difference” in the New Yorker’s print edition, this essay opens with a story. A couple plans on dividing their money equally among their children. However, they realize that to ensure equal success for their children, they might need to start with unequal amounts. This essay digs into the complexity of “equality.” While inequality is a major concern for people, most struggle to truly define it. Citing lectures, studies, philosophy, religion, and more, Rothman sheds light on the fact that equality is not a simple – or easy – concept.

Joshua Rothman has worked as a writer and editor of The New Yorker since 2012. He is the ideas editor of newyorker.com.

“Why Understanding Equity vs Equality in Schools Can Help You Create an Inclusive Classroom” (2019) – Waterford.org

Equality in education is critical to society. Students that receive excellent education are more likely to succeed than students who don’t. This essay focuses on the importance of equity, which means giving support to students dealing with issues like poverty, discrimination and economic injustice. What is the difference between equality and equity? What are some strategies that can address barriers? This essay is a great introduction to the equity issues teachers face and why equity is so important.

Waterford.org is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving equity and education in the United States. It believes that the educational experiences children receive are crucial for their future. Waterford.org was founded by Dr. Dustin Heuston.

“What does equality mean to me?” (2020) – Gabriela Vivacqua and Saddal Diab

While it seems simple, the concept of equality is complex. In this piece posted by WFP_Africa on the WFP’s Insight page, the authors ask women from South Sudan what equality means to them. Half of South Sudan’s population consists of women and girls. Unequal access to essentials like healthcare, education, and work opportunities hold them back. Complete with photographs, this short text gives readers a glimpse into interpretations of equality and what organizations like the World Food Programme are doing to tackle gender inequality.

As part of the UN, the World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization focusing on hunger and food security . It provides food assistance to over 80 countries each year.

“Here’s How Gender Equality is Measured” (2020) – Catherine Caruso

Gender inequality is one of the most discussed areas of inequality. Sobering stats reveal that while progress has been made, the world is still far from realizing true gender equality. How is gender equality measured? This essay refers to the Global Gender Gap report ’s factors. This report is released each year by the World Economic Forum. The four factors are political empowerment, health and survival, economic participation and opportunity, and education. The author provides a brief explanation of each factor.

Catherine Caruso is the Editorial Intern at Global Citizen, a movement committed to ending extreme poverty by 2030. Previously, Caruso worked as a writer for Inquisitr. Her English degree is from Syracuse University. She writes stories on health, the environment, and citizenship.

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A pandemic that disproportionately affected communities of color, roadblocks that obstructed efforts to expand the franchise and protect voting discrimination, a growing movement to push anti-racist curricula out of schools – events over the past year have only underscored how prevalent systemic racism and bias is in America today.

What can be done to dismantle centuries of discrimination in the U.S.? How can a more equitable society be achieved? What makes racism such a complicated problem to solve? Black History Month is a time marked for honoring and reflecting on the experience of Black Americans, and it is also an opportunity to reexamine our nation’s deeply embedded racial problems and the possible solutions that could help build a more equitable society.

Stanford scholars are tackling these issues head-on in their research from the perspectives of history, education, law and other disciplines. For example, historian Clayborne Carson is working to preserve and promote the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and religious studies scholar Lerone A. Martin has joined Stanford to continue expanding access and opportunities to learn from King’s teachings; sociologist Matthew Clair is examining how the criminal justice system can end a vicious cycle involving the disparate treatment of Black men; and education scholar Subini Ancy Annamma is studying ways to make education more equitable for historically marginalized students.

Learn more about these efforts and other projects examining racism and discrimination in areas like health and medicine, technology and the workplace below.

Update: Jan. 27, 2023: This story was originally published on Feb. 16, 2021, and has been updated on a number of occasions to include new content.

Understanding the impact of racism; advancing justice

One of the hardest elements of advancing racial justice is helping everyone understand the ways in which they are involved in a system or structure that perpetuates racism, according to Stanford legal scholar Ralph Richard Banks.

“The starting point for the center is the recognition that racial inequality and division have long been the fault line of American society. Thus, addressing racial inequity is essential to sustaining our nation, and furthering its democratic aspirations,” said Banks , the Jackson Eli Reynolds Professor of Law at Stanford Law School and co-founder of the Stanford Center for Racial Justice .

This sentiment was echoed by Stanford researcher Rebecca Hetey . One of the obstacles in solving inequality is people’s attitudes towards it, Hetey said. “One of the barriers of reducing inequality is how some people justify and rationalize it.”

How people talk about race and stereotypes matters. Here is some of that scholarship.

For Black Americans, COVID-19 is quickly reversing crucial economic gains

Research co-authored by SIEPR’s Peter Klenow and Chad Jones measures the welfare gap between Black and white Americans and provides a way to analyze policies to narrow the divide.

How an ‘impact mindset’ unites activists of different races

A new study finds that people’s involvement with Black Lives Matter stems from an impulse that goes beyond identity.

For democracy to work, racial inequalities must be addressed

The Stanford Center for Racial Justice is taking a hard look at the policies perpetuating systemic racism in America today and asking how we can imagine a more equitable society.

The psychological toll of George Floyd’s murder

As the nation mourned the death of George Floyd, more Black Americans than white Americans felt angry or sad – a finding that reveals the racial disparities of grief.

Seven factors contributing to American racism

Of the seven factors the researchers identified, perhaps the most insidious is passivism or passive racism, which includes an apathy toward systems of racial advantage or denial that those systems even exist.

Scholars reflect on Black history

Humanities and social sciences scholars reflect on “Black history as American history” and its impact on their personal and professional lives.

The history of Black History Month

It's February, so many teachers and schools are taking time to celebrate Black History Month. According to Stanford historian Michael Hines, there are still misunderstandings and misconceptions about the past, present, and future of the celebration.

Numbers about inequality don’t speak for themselves

In a new research paper, Stanford scholars Rebecca Hetey and Jennifer Eberhardt propose new ways to talk about racial disparities that exist across society, from education to health care and criminal justice systems.

Changing how people perceive problems

Drawing on an extensive body of research, Stanford psychologist Gregory Walton lays out a roadmap to positively influence the way people think about themselves and the world around them. These changes could improve society, too.

Welfare opposition linked to threats of racial standing

Research co-authored by sociologist Robb Willer finds that when white Americans perceive threats to their status as the dominant demographic group, their resentment of minorities increases. This resentment leads to opposing welfare programs they believe will mainly benefit minority groups.

Conversations about race between Black and white friends can feel risky, but are valuable

New research about how friends approach talking about their race-related experiences with each other reveals concerns but also the potential that these conversations have to strengthen relationships and further intergroup learning.

Defusing racial bias

Research shows why understanding the source of discrimination matters.

Many white parents aren’t having ‘the talk’ about race with their kids

After George Floyd’s murder, Black parents talked about race and racism with their kids more. White parents did not and were more likely to give their kids colorblind messages.

Stereotyping makes people more likely to act badly

Even slight cues, like reading a negative stereotype about your race or gender, can have an impact.

Why white people downplay their individual racial privileges

Research shows that white Americans, when faced with evidence of racial privilege, deny that they have benefited personally.

Clayborne Carson: Looking back at a legacy

Stanford historian Clayborne Carson reflects on a career dedicated to studying and preserving the legacy of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

How race influences, amplifies backlash against outspoken women

When women break gender norms, the most negative reactions may come from people of the same race.

Examining disparities in education

Scholar Subini Ancy Annamma is studying ways to make education more equitable for historically marginalized students. Annamma’s research examines how schools contribute to the criminalization of Black youths by creating a culture of punishment that penalizes Black children more harshly than their white peers for the same behavior. Her work shows that youth of color are more likely to be closely watched, over-represented in special education, and reported to and arrested by police.

“These are all ways in which schools criminalize Black youth,” she said. “Day after day, these things start to sediment.”

That’s why Annamma has identified opportunities for teachers and administrators to intervene in these unfair practices. Below is some of that research, from Annamma and others.

New ‘Segregation Index’ shows American schools remain highly segregated by race, ethnicity, and economic status

Researchers at Stanford and USC developed a new tool to track neighborhood and school segregation in the U.S.

New evidence shows that school poverty shapes racial achievement gaps

Racial segregation leads to growing achievement gaps – but it does so entirely through differences in school poverty, according to new research from education Professor Sean Reardon, who is launching a new tool to help educators, parents and policymakers examine education trends by race and poverty level nationwide.

School closures intensify gentrification in Black neighborhoods nationwide

An analysis of census and school closure data finds that shuttering schools increases gentrification – but only in predominantly Black communities.

Ninth-grade ethnic studies helped students for years, Stanford researchers find

A new study shows that students assigned to an ethnic studies course had longer-term improvements in attendance and graduation rates.

Teaching about racism

Stanford sociologist Matthew Snipp discusses ways to educate students about race and ethnic relations in America.

Stanford scholar uncovers an early activist’s fight to get Black history into schools

In a new book, Assistant Professor Michael Hines chronicles the efforts of a Chicago schoolteacher in the 1930s who wanted to remedy the portrayal of Black history in textbooks of the time.

How disability intersects with race

Professor Alfredo J. Artiles discusses the complexities in creating inclusive policies for students with disabilities.

Access to program for black male students lowered dropout rates

New research led by Stanford education professor Thomas S. Dee provides the first evidence of effectiveness for a district-wide initiative targeted at black male high school students.

How school systems make criminals of Black youth

Stanford education professor Subini Ancy Annamma talks about the role schools play in creating a culture of punishment against Black students.

Reducing racial disparities in school discipline

Stanford psychologists find that brief exercises early in middle school can improve students’ relationships with their teachers, increase their sense of belonging and reduce teachers’ reports of discipline issues among black and Latino boys.

Science lessons through a different lens

In his new book, Science in the City, Stanford education professor Bryan A. Brown helps bridge the gap between students’ culture and the science classroom.

Teachers more likely to label black students as troublemakers, Stanford research shows

Stanford psychologists Jennifer Eberhardt and Jason Okonofua experimentally examined the psychological processes involved when teachers discipline black students more harshly than white students.

Why we need Black teachers

Travis Bristol, MA '04, talks about what it takes for schools to hire and retain teachers of color.

Understanding racism in the criminal justice system

Research has shown that time and time again, inequality is embedded into all facets of the criminal justice system. From being arrested to being charged, convicted and sentenced, people of color – particularly Black men – are disproportionately targeted by the police.

“So many reforms are needed: police accountability, judicial intervention, reducing prosecutorial power and increasing resources for public defenders are places we can start,” said sociologist Matthew Clair . “But beyond piecemeal reforms, we need to continue having critical conversations about transformation and the role of the courts in bringing about the abolition of police and prisons.”

Clair is one of several Stanford scholars who have examined the intersection of race and the criminal process and offered solutions to end the vicious cycle of racism. Here is some of that work.

Police Facebook posts disproportionately highlight crimes involving Black suspects, study finds

Researchers examined crime-related posts from 14,000 Facebook pages maintained by U.S. law enforcement agencies and found that Facebook users are exposed to posts that overrepresent Black suspects by 25% relative to local arrest rates.

Supporting students involved in the justice system

New data show that a one-page letter asking a teacher to support a youth as they navigate the difficult transition from juvenile detention back to school can reduce the likelihood that the student re-offends.

Race and mass criminalization in the U.S.

Stanford sociologist discusses how race and class inequalities are embedded in the American criminal legal system.

New Stanford research lab explores incarcerated students’ educational paths

Associate Professor Subini Annamma examines the policies and practices that push marginalized students out of school and into prisons.

Derek Chauvin verdict important, but much remains to be done

Stanford scholars Hakeem Jefferson, Robert Weisberg and Matthew Clair weigh in on the Derek Chauvin verdict, emphasizing that while the outcome is important, much work remains to be done to bring about long-lasting justice.

A ‘veil of darkness’ reduces racial bias in traffic stops

After analyzing 95 million traffic stop records, filed by officers with 21 state patrol agencies and 35 municipal police forces from 2011 to 2018, researchers concluded that “police stops and search decisions suffer from persistent racial bias.”

Stanford big data study finds racial disparities in Oakland, Calif., police behavior, offers solutions

Analyzing thousands of data points, the researchers found racial disparities in how Oakland officers treated African Americans on routine traffic and pedestrian stops. They suggest 50 measures to improve police-community relations.

Race and the death penalty

As questions about racial bias in the criminal justice system dominate the headlines, research by Stanford law Professor John J. Donohue III offers insight into one of the most fraught areas: the death penalty.

Diagnosing disparities in health, medicine

The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted communities of color and has highlighted the health disparities between Black Americans, whites and other demographic groups.

As Iris Gibbs , professor of radiation oncology and associate dean of MD program admissions, pointed out at an event sponsored by Stanford Medicine: “We need more sustained attention and real action towards eliminating health inequities, educating our entire community and going beyond ‘allyship,’ because that one fizzles out. We really do need people who are truly there all the way.”

Below is some of that research as well as solutions that can address some of the disparities in the American healthcare system.

sample essay on racial equality

Stanford researchers testing ways to improve clinical trial diversity

The American Heart Association has provided funding to two Stanford Medicine professors to develop ways to diversify enrollment in heart disease clinical trials.

Striking inequalities in maternal and infant health

Research by SIEPR’s Petra Persson and Maya Rossin-Slater finds wealthy Black mothers and infants in the U.S. fare worse than the poorest white mothers and infants.

More racial diversity among physicians would lead to better health among black men

A clinical trial in Oakland by Stanford researchers found that black men are more likely to seek out preventive care after being seen by black doctors compared to non-black doctors.

A better measuring stick: Algorithmic approach to pain diagnosis could eliminate racial bias

Traditional approaches to pain management don’t treat all patients the same. AI could level the playing field.

5 questions: Alice Popejoy on race, ethnicity and ancestry in science

Alice Popejoy, a postdoctoral scholar who studies biomedical data sciences, speaks to the role – and pitfalls – of race, ethnicity and ancestry in research.

Stanford Medicine community calls for action against racial injustice, inequities

The event at Stanford provided a venue for health care workers and students to express their feelings about violence against African Americans and to voice their demands for change.

Racial disparity remains in heart-transplant mortality rates, Stanford study finds

African-American heart transplant patients have had persistently higher mortality rates than white patients, but exactly why still remains a mystery.

Finding the COVID-19 Victims that Big Data Misses

Widely used virus tracking data undercounts older people and people of color. Scholars propose a solution to this demographic bias.

Studying how racial stressors affect mental health

Farzana Saleem, an assistant professor at Stanford Graduate School of Education, is interested in the way Black youth and other young people of color navigate adolescence—and the racial stressors that can make the journey harder.

Infants’ race influences quality of hospital care in California

Disparities exist in how babies of different racial and ethnic origins are treated in California’s neonatal intensive care units, but this could be changed, say Stanford researchers.

Immigrants don’t move state-to-state in search of health benefits

When states expand public health insurance to include low-income, legal immigrants, it does not lead to out-of-state immigrants moving in search of benefits.

Excess mortality rates early in pandemic highest among Blacks

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been starkly uneven across race, ethnicity and geography, according to a new study led by SHP's Maria Polyakova.

Decoding bias in media, technology

Driving Artificial Intelligence are machine learning algorithms, sets of rules that tell a computer how to solve a problem, perform a task and in some cases, predict an outcome. These predictive models are based on massive datasets to recognize certain patterns, which according to communication scholar Angele Christin , sometimes come flawed with human bias . 

“Technology changes things, but perhaps not always as much as we think,” Christin said. “Social context matters a lot in shaping the actual effects of the technological tools. […] So, it’s important to understand that connection between humans and machines.”

Below is some of that research, as well as other ways discrimination unfolds across technology, in the media, and ways to counteract it.

IRS disproportionately audits Black taxpayers

A Stanford collaboration with the Department of the Treasury yields the first direct evidence of differences in audit rates by race.

Automated speech recognition less accurate for blacks

The disparity likely occurs because such technologies are based on machine learning systems that rely heavily on databases of English as spoken by white Americans.

New algorithm trains AI to avoid bad behaviors

Robots, self-driving cars and other intelligent machines could become better-behaved thanks to a new way to help machine learning designers build AI applications with safeguards against specific, undesirable outcomes such as racial and gender bias.

Stanford scholar analyzes responses to algorithms in journalism, criminal justice

In a recent study, assistant professor of communication Angèle Christin finds a gap between intended and actual uses of algorithmic tools in journalism and criminal justice fields.

Move responsibly and think about things

In the course CS 181: Computers, Ethics and Public Policy , Stanford students become computer programmers, policymakers and philosophers to examine the ethical and social impacts of technological innovation.

Homicide victims from Black and Hispanic neighborhoods devalued

Social scientists found that homicide victims killed in Chicago’s predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods received less news coverage than those killed in mostly white neighborhoods.

Algorithms reveal changes in stereotypes

New Stanford research shows that, over the past century, linguistic changes in gender and ethnic stereotypes correlated with major social movements and demographic changes in the U.S. Census data.

AI Index Diversity Report: An Unmoving Needle

Stanford HAI’s 2021 AI Index reveals stalled progress in diversifying AI and a scarcity of the data needed to fix it.

Identifying discrimination in the workplace and economy

From who moves forward in the hiring process to who receives funding from venture capitalists, research has revealed how Blacks and other minority groups are discriminated against in the workplace and economy-at-large. 

“There is not one silver bullet here that you can walk away with. Hiring and retention with respect to employee diversity are complex problems,” said Adina Sterling , associate professor of organizational behavior at the Graduate School of Business (GSB). 

Sterling has offered a few places where employers can expand employee diversity at their companies. For example, she suggests hiring managers track data about their recruitment methods and the pools that result from those efforts, as well as examining who they ultimately hire.

Here is some of that insight.

How To: Use a Scorecard to Evaluate People More Fairly

A written framework is an easy way to hold everyone to the same standard.

Archiving Black histories of Silicon Valley

A new collection at Stanford Libraries will highlight Black Americans who helped transform California’s Silicon Valley region into a hub for innovation, ideas.

Race influences professional investors’ judgments

In their evaluations of high-performing venture capital funds, professional investors rate white-led teams more favorably than they do black-led teams with identical credentials, a new Stanford study led by Jennifer L. Eberhardt finds.

Who moves forward in the hiring process?

People whose employment histories include part-time, temporary help agency or mismatched work can face challenges during the hiring process, according to new research by Stanford sociologist David Pedulla.

How emotions may result in hiring, workplace bias

Stanford study suggests that the emotions American employers are looking for in job candidates may not match up with emotions valued by jobseekers from some cultural backgrounds – potentially leading to hiring bias.

Do VCs really favor white male founders?

A field experiment used fake emails to measure gender and racial bias among startup investors.

Can you spot diversity? (Probably not)

New research shows a “spillover effect” that might be clouding your judgment.

Can job referrals improve employee diversity?

New research looks at how referrals impact promotions of minorities and women.

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I, Too by Langston Hughes: Symbolism and Racial Equality

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  • How to Write a Diversity Essay | Tips & Examples

How to Write a Diversity Essay | Tips & Examples

Published on November 1, 2021 by Kirsten Courault . Revised on May 31, 2023.

Table of contents

What is a diversity essay, identify how you will enrich the campus community, share stories about your lived experience, explain how your background or identity has affected your life, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about college application essays.

Diversity essays ask students to highlight an important aspect of their identity, background, culture, experience, viewpoints, beliefs, skills, passions, goals, etc.

Diversity essays can come in many forms. Some scholarships are offered specifically for students who come from an underrepresented background or identity in higher education. At highly competitive schools, supplemental diversity essays require students to address how they will enhance the student body with a unique perspective, identity, or background.

In the Common Application and applications for several other colleges, some main essay prompts ask about how your background, identity, or experience has affected you.

Why schools want a diversity essay

Many universities believe a student body representing different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community.

Through the diversity essay, admissions officers want students to articulate the following:

  • What makes them different from other applicants
  • Stories related to their background, identity, or experience
  • How their unique lived experience has affected their outlook, activities, and goals

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

Think about what aspects of your identity or background make you unique, and choose one that has significantly impacted your life.

For some students, it may be easy to identify what sets them apart from their peers. But if you’re having trouble identifying what makes you different from other applicants, consider your life from an outsider’s perspective. Don’t presume your lived experiences are normal or boring just because you’re used to them.

Some examples of identities or experiences that you might write about include the following:

  • Race/ethnicity
  • Gender identity
  • Sexual orientation
  • Nationality
  • Socioeconomic status
  • Immigration background
  • Religion/belief system
  • Place of residence
  • Family circumstances
  • Extracurricular activities related to diversity

Include vulnerable, authentic stories about your lived experiences. Maintain focus on your experience rather than going into too much detail comparing yourself to others or describing their experiences.

Keep the focus on you

Tell a story about how your background, identity, or experience has impacted you. While you can briefly mention another person’s experience to provide context, be sure to keep the essay focused on you. Admissions officers are mostly interested in learning about your lived experience, not anyone else’s.

When I was a baby, my grandmother took me in, even though that meant postponing her retirement and continuing to work full-time at the local hairdresser. Even working every shift she could, she never missed a single school play or soccer game.

She and I had a really special bond, even creating our own special language to leave each other secret notes and messages. She always pushed me to succeed in school, and celebrated every academic achievement like it was worthy of a Nobel Prize. Every month, any leftover tip money she received at work went to a special 509 savings plan for my college education.

When I was in the 10th grade, my grandmother was diagnosed with ALS. We didn’t have health insurance, and what began with quitting soccer eventually led to dropping out of school as her condition worsened. In between her doctor’s appointments, keeping the house tidy, and keeping her comfortable, I took advantage of those few free moments to study for the GED.

In school pictures at Raleigh Elementary School, you could immediately spot me as “that Asian girl.” At lunch, I used to bring leftover fun see noodles, but after my classmates remarked how they smelled disgusting, I begged my mom to make a “regular” lunch of sliced bread, mayonnaise, and deli meat.

Although born and raised in North Carolina, I felt a cultural obligation to learn my “mother tongue” and reconnect with my “homeland.” After two years of all-day Saturday Chinese school, I finally visited Beijing for the first time, expecting I would finally belong. While my face initially assured locals of my Chinese identity, the moment I spoke, my cover was blown. My Chinese was littered with tonal errors, and I was instantly labeled as an “ABC,” American-born Chinese.

I felt culturally homeless.

Speak from your own experience

Highlight your actions, difficulties, and feelings rather than comparing yourself to others. While it may be tempting to write about how you have been more or less fortunate than those around you, keep the focus on you and your unique experiences, as shown below.

I began to despair when the FAFSA website once again filled with red error messages.

I had been at the local library for hours and hadn’t even been able to finish the form, much less the other to-do items for my application.

I am the first person in my family to even consider going to college. My parents work two jobs each, but even then, it’s sometimes very hard to make ends meet. Rather than playing soccer or competing in speech and debate, I help my family by taking care of my younger siblings after school and on the weekends.

“We only speak one language here. Speak proper English!” roared a store owner when I had attempted to buy bread and accidentally used the wrong preposition.

In middle school, I had relentlessly studied English grammar textbooks and received the highest marks.

Leaving Seoul was hard, but living in West Orange, New Jersey was much harder一especially navigating everyday communication with Americans.

After sharing relevant personal stories, make sure to provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your perspective, activities, and goals. You should also explain how your background led you to apply to this university and why you’re a good fit.

Include your outlook, actions, and goals

Conclude your essay with an insight about how your background or identity has affected your outlook, actions, and goals. You should include specific actions and activities that you have done as a result of your insight.

One night, before the midnight premiere of Avengers: Endgame , I stopped by my best friend Maria’s house. Her mother prepared tamales, churros, and Mexican hot chocolate, packing them all neatly in an Igloo lunch box. As we sat in the line snaking around the AMC theater, I thought back to when Maria and I took salsa classes together and when we belted out Selena’s “Bidi Bidi Bom Bom” at karaoke. In that moment, as I munched on a chicken tamale, I realized how much I admired the beauty, complexity, and joy in Maria’s culture but had suppressed and devalued my own.

The following semester, I joined Model UN. Since then, I have learned how to proudly represent other countries and have gained cultural perspectives other than my own. I now understand that all cultures, including my own, are equal. I still struggle with small triggers, like when I go through airport security and feel a suspicious glance toward me, or when I feel self-conscious for bringing kabsa to school lunch. But in the future, I hope to study and work in international relations to continue learning about other cultures and impart a positive impression of Saudi culture to the world.

The smell of the early morning dew and the welcoming whinnies of my family’s horses are some of my most treasured childhood memories. To this day, our farm remains so rural that we do not have broadband access, and we’re too far away from the closest town for the postal service to reach us.

Going to school regularly was always a struggle: between the unceasing demands of the farm and our lack of connectivity, it was hard to keep up with my studies. Despite being a voracious reader, avid amateur chemist, and active participant in the classroom, emergencies and unforeseen events at the farm meant that I had a lot of unexcused absences.

Although it had challenges, my upbringing taught me resilience, the value of hard work, and the importance of family. Staying up all night to watch a foal being born, successfully saving the animals from a minor fire, and finding ways to soothe a nervous mare afraid of thunder have led to an unbreakable family bond.

Our farm is my family’s birthright and our livelihood, and I am eager to learn how to ensure the farm’s financial and technological success for future generations. In college, I am looking forward to joining a chapter of Future Farmers of America and studying agricultural business to carry my family’s legacy forward.

Tailor your answer to the university

After explaining how your identity or background will enrich the university’s existing student body, you can mention the university organizations, groups, or courses in which you’re interested.

Maybe a larger public school setting will allow you to broaden your community, or a small liberal arts college has a specialized program that will give you space to discover your voice and identity. Perhaps this particular university has an active affinity group you’d like to join.

Demonstrating how a university’s specific programs or clubs are relevant to you can show that you’ve done your research and would be a great addition to the university.

At the University of Michigan Engineering, I want to study engineering not only to emulate my mother’s achievements and strength, but also to forge my own path as an engineer with disabilities. I appreciate the University of Michigan’s long-standing dedication to supporting students with disabilities in ways ranging from accessible housing to assistive technology. At the University of Michigan Engineering, I want to receive a top-notch education and use it to inspire others to strive for their best, regardless of their circumstances.

If you want to know more about academic writing , effective communication , or parts of speech , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Academic writing

  • Writing process
  • Transition words
  • Passive voice
  • Paraphrasing

 Communication

  • How to end an email
  • Ms, mrs, miss
  • How to start an email
  • I hope this email finds you well
  • Hope you are doing well

 Parts of speech

  • Personal pronouns
  • Conjunctions

In addition to your main college essay , some schools and scholarships may ask for a supplementary essay focused on an aspect of your identity or background. This is sometimes called a diversity essay .

Many universities believe a student body composed of different perspectives, beliefs, identities, and backgrounds will enhance the campus learning and community experience.

Admissions officers are interested in hearing about how your unique background, identity, beliefs, culture, or characteristics will enrich the campus community, which is why they assign a diversity essay .

To write an effective diversity essay , include vulnerable, authentic stories about your unique identity, background, or perspective. Provide insight into how your lived experience has influenced your outlook, activities, and goals. If relevant, you should also mention how your background has led you to apply for this university and why you’re a good fit.

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Essay Samples on Equality

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  • Martin Luther King Jr.’s Legacy 60 Years After the March on Washington

2. Views of the country’s progress on racial equality

Table of contents.

  • King’s impact on the country
  • King’s impact on personal views on racial equality
  • Familiarity with King’s ‘I Have a Dream’ speech
  • The country’s progress on racial equality in the last 60 years
  • Efforts to ensure equal rights for all, regardless of race or ethnicity
  • The future of racial equality
  • 3. Achieving racial equality
  • Acknowledgments
  • The American Trends Panel survey methodology

About half of U.S. adults (52%) say that, in the last 60 years, the country has made a great deal or a fair amount of progress in ensuring equal rights for all people, regardless of race or ethnicity. A third say the country has made some progress, and 15% say the country hasn’t made much progress or any progress at all. About half of adults (52%) also say efforts to ensure equal rights for all people haven’t gone far enough. About a quarter (27%) say efforts have been about right, while 20% say they’ve gone too far.

By race and ethnicity

Bar charts showing Majority of White adults and Republicans say the country has made a great deal or a fair amount of progress on racial equality in the last 60 years

White adults are the most likely to say the country has made a great deal or a fair amount of progress in ensuring racial equality (58% say this). In turn, Black adults are the least likely to say there’s been a lot of progress (30%).

About a third of Black Americans (32%) say the country hasn’t made much progress or any progress at all on racial equality in the last 60 years. This is larger than the shares of Hispanic (19%), White (11%) and Asian (11%) Americans who say the same.

By partisanship

Two-thirds of Republicans and those who lean Republican say the country has made a great deal or a fair amount of progress on racial equality in the last 60 years. A far smaller share (38%) of Democrats and those who lean Democratic say the same.

Democrats are about twice as likely as Republicans (19% vs. 10%) to say there hasn’t been much progress or there’s been no progress at all on this.

Ideological differences among Republicans

About seven-in-ten conservative Republicans (72%) say the country has made a lot of progress on racial equality in the last 60 years. A smaller majority of moderate and liberal Republicans (59%) share this view.

There is no difference on this question between liberal Democrats and moderate and conservative Democrats.

CORRECTION (Sept. 29, 2023): In a previous version of this report, the chart “Majority of White adults and Republicans say the country has made a great deal or a fair amount of progress on racial equality in the last 60 years” included the wrong figure for the share of Asian adults who say the country has made not much or no progress in ensuring equal rights for all people in the U.S. The report text cited the correct figure (11%).

Chart showing most Black adults and Democrats say efforts to ensure racial equality haven’t gone far enough

A large majority of Black Americans (83%) say efforts to ensure equality haven’t gone far enough. This compares with 58% of Hispanic Americans, 55% of Asian Americans and 44% of White Americans.

About a quarter of White Americans (24%) say these efforts have gone too far . Some 19% of Asian Americans and 15% of Hispanic Americans agree, compared with 7% of Black Americans.

About eight-in-ten Democrats (78%) say efforts to ensure racial equality haven’t gone far enough. Views are more divided among Republicans: 24% agree that these efforts haven’t gone far enough, while larger shares say they’ve gone too far (37%) or have been about right (39%).

Ideological differences among Republicans and Democrats

Some 43% of conservative Republicans say efforts to ensure racial equality have gone too far; 41% say these efforts have been about right; and 15% say they haven’t gone far enough.

Among moderate and liberal Republicans, more say these efforts haven’t gone far enough (38%) or have been about right (35%) than say they’ve gone too far (27%). While large majorities of Democrats across ideologies say efforts to ensure equality haven’t gone far enough, liberal Democrats (86%) are more likely moderate and conservative Democrats (71%) to say this.

Thinking about the future, more Americans say they are pessimistic (44%) than say they are optimistic (28%) about the country’s ability to ensure equality for all people, regardless of race or ethnicity.

We also asked people who say efforts to ensure racial equality haven’t gone far enough or have been about right if they think there will be equality in their lifetime. Those who say efforts to ensure equal rights haven’t gone far enough are particularly pessimistic – a majority (58%) say racial equality is unlikely, while 33% say it’s somewhat likely and only 8% say it’s extremely or very likely.

Stacked bar chart showing 58% of Americans who say efforts to ensure racial equality haven’t gone far enough say it’s unlikely there will be equality in their lifetime

Among those who say efforts to ensure equality have been about right , 39% say it’s extremely or very likely that there will be racial equality in the U.S. in their lifetime; 36% say it’s somewhat likely; and 24% say this is unlikely to happen.

Opinions on this don’t vary much by race or ethnicity among those who say efforts to ensure equality haven’t gone far enough . (The number of Black, Hispanic and Asian adults who say efforts have been about right is too small to analyze separately.) There are also no major differences by party among those who say efforts haven’t gone far enough.

Among those who say efforts to ensure equality have been about right , Republicans (46%) are more likely than Democrats (29%) to say it’s extremely or very likely that there will be racial equality in their lifetime. In turn, 31% of Democrats in this group say this is unlikely, compared with 19% of Republicans.

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Racism and Inequality in Society Essay

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  • As a template for you assignment

Race has been a serving system of shaping individual and collective identities and influencing social relations. The notion justifies the superiority of specific social groups, perpetuating systemic inequalities and injustices. For many centuries, authorities used the diversity as a tool of segregation, making economical and political profit. Race is a social construct influenced by historical, economic, and political variables rather than a biological truth.

The idea of race as a social construct is examined in the first episode of the documentary series “The Power of an Illusion.” The movie shows that the idea of race is not biological but rather socially formed and influenced by political, economic, and historical circumstances (Kanopy: Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top Documentaries). In my social science lectures, I did not see any new angles at which race can be analyzed, since I have previously studied this issue deeply.

I focused on the political and historical reasons that influenced the development of racial classifications was instructive. To reveal the essence of racism, it is necessary to show how the idea of race was created to humiliate particular groups of people (Omi and Winant 118). After that, I would present how race classifies people according to their physical features. The Omi and Winant reading explores the concept of racial formation. The authors argue that race is not an objective category, but a social construct shaped by historical and political factors. They discuss how racial categories are formed through the intersection of biological, cultural, and historical factors and how they are reproduced through social institutions and practices (Omi and Winant 114). The video and the reading both emphasize the role of power relations in shaping racial categories and the importance of understanding race as a dynamic and changing concept.

In conclusion, to understand how racism and inequality function in society, it is essential to understand race as a social construct. The film and Omi and Winant’s reading offer insightful perspectives on how race has been introduced as a tool of discrimination. Admitting that race is only a cultural phenomenon, one can guarantee a more equal society that gives space to multiplicity and true personal freedom.

Works Cited

“ Kanopy: Stream Classic Cinema, Indie Film and Top Documentaries .” Kanopy , Web.

Omi, Michael, and Howard Winant. Racial Formation in the United States . Routledge, 2014.

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IvyPanda. (2024, February 15). Racism and Inequality in Society. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-and-inequality-in-society/

"Racism and Inequality in Society." IvyPanda , 15 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/racism-and-inequality-in-society/.

IvyPanda . (2024) 'Racism and Inequality in Society'. 15 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "Racism and Inequality in Society." February 15, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-and-inequality-in-society/.

1. IvyPanda . "Racism and Inequality in Society." February 15, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-and-inequality-in-society/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Racism and Inequality in Society." February 15, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/racism-and-inequality-in-society/.

Home / Essay Samples / Life / Believe / This I Believe In: Racial Equality

This I Believe In: Racial Equality

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  • Topic: Belief , Believe , Personal Beliefs

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