Last week, WalletHub, a personal finance website, measured the gaps between Black and White individuals across 22 key indicators of equality and integration across America. Kentucky ranked fourth in racial integration and 27th in racial progress. The data set ranges from median annual income to standardized-test scores to voter turnout.
The Rev. Rhondalyn Randolph, President of Owensboro’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Branch 3107, said diversity is good for the community, state and country because there is strength and creativity in diversity.
“Different perspectives and experiences allow us more knowledge to work with to solve problems, create solutions and new inventions,” Randolph said. “This country was built upon diversity and this is why we are so successful and great as a country. From Native Americans, slaves and immigrants, we all contributed to make this country great.”
According to the NAACP website, their mission is to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate race-based discrimination.
Randolph said Owensboro has several events that promote racial integration such as Pop Warner football and cheerleading, public school events and the fireworks display at the Riverfront.
“The underlying common thread is something that’s inexpensive and involves children and families,” she said. “This is one of the pillars which makes Owensboro attractive. But public schools have to be integrated by federal/state law, so it’s more of a forced integration.”
A Pew Research survey found that 58 percent of Americans think increasing diversity makes the U.S. a better place, while 9 percent say it makes the U.S. a worse place. Thirty-one percent think it makes no difference.
Check out the full study here.
