Ralph Emerson Individualism Today

Individualism Today

After reading Ralph Emerson’s Self-Reliance, I have spent a lot of time thinking about how is individualism is looked at today in America. The conclusion after pondering this question is that individuality it is under attack. People’s color of their skin, personality, clothing, and home life are all under attack.
A substantial part of why people tell others what or how to think of others is based off of how they have been raised. Individuals who have grown up in a household with racist family members and have been told all their life that anyone that wears a turban are going to bomb America are the ones who make people of any other race feel less than others. Today most families try to teach their children how everyone is the same regardless of skin color but there are still those select few who feel like they are supposed to make anyone that isn’t the same race like their ancestors did in the 1960’s. There’s also been an image put into the younger generations heads that if you see someone in dirty, worn clothes that they are poor when in all reality they could be a hard construction worker who spends all their time working. Judging people by their appearance isn’t very accurate.

Today all people want is acceptance from their family and peers.

Most people think that acceptance from others are all that matters and they will do anything that to get that. This includes things such as when African Americans get their hair chemically straightened like white people, whites tanning, and even sometimes change hair color. When people rely on others for their happiness they tend to be more unhappy because they aren’t satisfied with themselves. People also try to gain friendships by dressing a certain way that they are not comfortable with, or even acting a different way when in a crowd of people that they want to impress. People of all races should accept themselves for the way they are, clothes they are, and their true personalities to find true

happiness.
What is the most upsetting is whenever people feel that the only way anyone will ever want to be their friend, love them, or just enjoy their company is to change something about themselves. No one should ever feel like they aren’t good enough the way they are based off of material things. I used to think in middle school that no one liked me because I did not have a phone and all of my friends did. I just wanted to be like everyone else when in all reality I didn’t even want a phone! The phone did nothing but bring me trouble because I received it at such a young age and didn’t know how to properly use my resources. People that take actions based on what their peers are just add to how individualism is being destroyed today.
Everyone is the same on the inside regardless of skin color, wealth, clothing, and even how we act. Shame on the person who treats anyone who they see as “different” or “weird” like they aren’t worthy. Everyone should embrace their differences that make them all unique individuals. America is attacking anyone who dares to be themselves and the separation needs to end.