Maïmounatou Koumaré
Maimounatoukoumare15@gmail.com
443-454-6259
12th Grade -- Western High School
Ms. Marta Pola
29 July 2015
What Diversity Means to Me, and Why?
Tropical rainforests support the greatest diversity of living organisms on Earth. The
rainforest is home to approximately ten million plants, animals and insects many of which are not
found anywhere else on the planet. That is not to say that life in the rainforest is easy. The soil in
the rainforest is very poor, making life difficult. The plants, animals, and insects have to be
innovative in order to survive, because diversity effects survival.
The USA is not much different when it comes to diversity, and it is a country that is proud
to call itself a “melting pot.” Many residents of the USA came as immigrants during a time of
turmoil in their respective countries. The English first settled the colonies to escape religious
persecution. For the Irish, it was the potato famine. More recently, Asians have come to the
United States to escape political corruption. When times get hard it is necessary for humans to
adapt to the environment. That sometimes means leaving trouble for better lands. It may also
mean living in a mélange of other cultures. Diversification can increase the likelihood of a
culture’s survival; however, if America does not become more like the natural world, her survival
might be compromised.
But diversity alone isn’t enough, because diversity is nothing without inclusion. Although
it is important to have many different people in one place but those different people need to be
included in society in order to give meaning to that society’s diversity. Unfortunately, America
falls short: there is a segregated place for everyone. There are Jewish communities, Muslim
communities, white communities and black communities. Should there be? In the rainforest there
are no groups for trees, ghettos for bugs, or communities for mammals. The connotation we
associate with the word ‘ghetto’ proves that when people are divided into groups and isolated, no
one benefits. In the natural world, all living things work together to enhance the survival of others.
It is a mixture. Inclusion is about making everyone feel a part of the group. As humans, social
inclusion is what determines whether a person thrives or dies. Those whom are not included or
embraced for their diversity are likely to be unhappy.
When a person is included they feel respected and important. Those that feel respected by
their society are happier, work harder and live longer. This ultimately is the goal of diversity:
inclusion and respect for all of society, so that people live longer. If we embrace diversity, people
will work hard to benefit the group, and we will not only thrive, our survival will be enhanced.
Just like in the rainforest which thrives with every new adaptation, and every new species which
benefits the system. Human society will be better off if everyone is represented and respected,
because, everyone deserves to feel included.
To me diversity means survival.