Is America Approaching Equality Within 
Guan 1
Fucheng Guan
History 17B
Adam Smith
Dec. 10,2014 Is America Approaching Equality Within Society?
Ever since the beginning of the “American” movement towards equality, people have been asking, “What is the meaning of equality?” According to the exact meaning of the word in relation to American society, it means, “the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.” (Dictionary: http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/equality) Equality has been the symbol of America, representing hope, freedom, and a fair amount of opportunities that were expected by Americans and immigrants. The Civil Rights Movements was the crusade for equal opportunities and rights. The challenge of overcoming social segregation, equal voting rights, and also feminist movements led the United States towards social and political equality.
Present day U.S. President Barack Obama, “honors Martin Luther King, Jr. by discussing how
King’s dreams have begun to be realized and continue to fuel the actions and directions of many
Americans.” (Text Pg. 477) Although many would agree with president Obama, “Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz examines growing economic discrepancies in the United
States and how these disparities impart even the most fundamental aspects of American society.”
(Text Pg. 477) I believe that, needless to say, the United States has progressively moved toward social and political equality. But, I think it is impossible to obtain total equality of society and politics. There will always be the undeniable factors of prejudice, selfinterest, and most importantly the concept of “privilege.” Therefore, I agree with Joseph E. Stiglitz, that the
Guan 2
growing discrepancies of the U.S. economy disturbs the fundamental idea of equality because of the natural factor of privileged people and the undeniable fact that the distribution of wealth is the main reason why “equal opportunity” do not exist in American
Fucheng Guan
History 17B
Adam Smith
Dec. 10,2014 Is America Approaching Equality Within Society?
Ever since the beginning of the “American” movement towards equality, people have been asking, “What is the meaning of equality?” According to the exact meaning of the word in relation to American society, it means, “the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.” (Dictionary: http://www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/equality) Equality has been the symbol of America, representing hope, freedom, and a fair amount of opportunities that were expected by Americans and immigrants. The Civil Rights Movements was the crusade for equal opportunities and rights. The challenge of overcoming social segregation, equal voting rights, and also feminist movements led the United States towards social and political equality.
Present day U.S. President Barack Obama, “honors Martin Luther King, Jr. by discussing how
King’s dreams have begun to be realized and continue to fuel the actions and directions of many
Americans.” (Text Pg. 477) Although many would agree with president Obama, “Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz examines growing economic discrepancies in the United
States and how these disparities impart even the most fundamental aspects of American society.”
(Text Pg. 477) I believe that, needless to say, the United States has progressively moved toward social and political equality. But, I think it is impossible to obtain total equality of society and politics. There will always be the undeniable factors of prejudice, selfinterest, and most importantly the concept of “privilege.” Therefore, I agree with Joseph E. Stiglitz, that the
Guan 2
growing discrepancies of the U.S. economy disturbs the fundamental idea of equality because of the natural factor of privileged people and the undeniable fact that the distribution of wealth is the main reason why “equal opportunity” do not exist in American