Want to bridge divides? You’re not alone — most Americans do too

Americans are exhausted—by our divisions, our politics, and a media landscape that thrives on tearing us apart.

- 

When asked to envision our ideal future, Americans say they want to connect and be united. But how do we get there? Perhaps, I’m simply invoking my Midwestern roots here, but I believe most Americans do not want to only know their neighbors but to be good neighbors. I was born and raised in Gary, Indiana, a city of stark contrasts, at the crossroads of America. From the house where I grew up, roads in one direction led to endless carmel-and-dominion-dominated farming communities, and roads in the other direction led to abandoned steel mills, and predominantly Black neighbourhoods.

By virtue of where I was raised, I grew accustomed to meeting people from various walks of life. But today, we have fewer opportunities to engage with others whose races, religions, classes, and politics differ from our own. In part, this is because so much of our daily lives takes place in a virtual world—we bank online, order groceries from our phones, and spend less time in public spaces. And, if we’re honest, we might seek ways in which we separate ourselves from others who are different from us—by choosing to live in communities that are largely segregated across economic, political, and racial grounds, and by retreating into digital echo chambers that reinforce our existing beliefs.