By Kenya Smith

I love learning about different countries and their cultures. I have always had a desire to travel, whether it be cross-country or globally.

My love for geography goes back to when I was little. It was instilled in me to watch channels such as PBS, National Geographic, Animal Planet and Discovery. I also read many books and played educational games that centered on geography and culture.

To this very day, I continue to engage in those things, and I have no qualms about my love for diversity.

As Americans, we should consider ourselves blessed for the ethnic and cultural diversity in our nation. It is fascinating to see and encounter people from different nationalities and ethnicities.

Sadly, not all Americans have this fascination and excitement when seeing different people. It aggravates me to see and hear the hatred, prejudice and disrespect some Americans develop when observing the growing ethnic and cultural diversity.

I believe the media and entertainment industries do a poor job when it comes to depicting people of different ethnicities because of the habit of creating stereotypes of different ethnic and cultural groups.

What we see on television or hear on the radio can shape how we see people. Not everything that the media and entertainment industry displays is true. Not all black people are poor, ghetto, troublemaking thugs, and not all white people are selfish bigots. Not all Hispanics are illegal immigrants and drug dealers nor are all Asians shy and introverted.

Stereotypes can hinder us from enjoying everyday life in the way that God intended it to be.

That is why it is important for us to learn as much about different ethnic groups, nationalities and cultures as possible. The more we learn about a culture, the fewer assumptions we make about people.

Read books, watch educational programs, and explore your neighborhood; you’ll never know who or what you’ll find. Be friendly and courteous to those who are different from you, and if you ever get a chance, do not be hesitant to strike up a conversation with people.

You will be surprised at how many things you have in common with people of different ethnic groups. Plus, you will earn some new friends and interests.

Even though He would face a lot of criticism, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ was not afraid to connect with people who were different from Him, for He came so that all people would be free from sin and bondage.

His conversation with the woman at the well is one example because Jesus was Jewish and the woman at the well was a Samaritan, which society considered disgraceful during Jesus’ time (John 4).

As Americans, be blessed for the cultural diversity and be hospitable towards different people.

Kenya Smith is a Suffolk native pursuing her bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in strategic communications and a history minor at Regent University. Email her at kenysmi@mail.regent.edu.