After the victorious 1963 speech by Martin Luther King Jr. on the steps of the National Mall in Washington, his inspiring message lead tens of thousands of citizens to demand change in our society and the much-needed end of segregation.

The civil rights of American citizens have grown and gained strength despite resistance from individuals and groups over the last 50 years. These laws ensure proper conduct from those who are slow to change, granting the fundamental respect necessary for a great nation’s people. Each and every one of them.

When President Obama took office in 2009 as the elected leader of this freedom-touting nation, I believed it was a statement about this nation’s honest commitment to embracing the rights of all.

Despite our culture’s progress, ruinous acts of hate still disrupt our nation. Even environments made for higher learning are hot spots for disrespect and intolerance of others and their cultures. At Indiana University, members of the Traditionalist Youth Network marched through the campus protesting in favor of white supremacy. While at Duke University in North Carolina, a Kappa Sigma fraternity hosted a party where they dressed and spoke in stereotypical Asian themes.

The only upside to these events is the response. More than 50 people protested the four white supremacists, and Duke University suspended the offending frat house for their inappropriate, Asian-themed party.

Most recently, a new Miss America was crowned. The 24-year-old New Yorker was immediately beset by hateful and ignorant tweets disparaging her heritage and questioning if she was American enough for the title. One of the things that angered viewers was the culturally inspired dance she used in competition. They felt it was un-American as it was inspired by Bollywood.

Our multicultural diversity is one of our strengths. Without it, we would simply stagnate as a nation. If we kept it the same we would stay the same and that is not as nature would have it.

Prejudice is a natural part of our judgmental process as we navigate life. We judge everything from oranges with spots to people wearing armor. It’s how we stay safe. Yet this over-developed, xenophobic attitude towards people who differ based on culture and skin color is lunacy.

I enjoy being able to emulate and interact with parts of other cultures, as their food, clothes, art and philosophies give me a depth of understanding and enjoyment beyond my own culture.

Without the food contributions from spices and recipes from all the other cultures across the planet, life would seem flat and boring. Same idea goes for medicine, science, art, music and every other aspect of culture. To deny them is to limit our own potential as both people and communities. In other words, we need each other.

The unknown tomorrow is coming. Will it bring disease, famine, disasters natural or man-made? Together we stand a better chance of overcoming the unseen. If a culture tries to tough it out without exchanging parts of itself, should it die out it will disappear completely like the Moriori of the Chatham Islands off the coast of New Zealand. With an integrated culture, no matter what happens, some aspects will carry on.

Greater education, both moral and academic, is instrumental in correcting the fundamental mistakes made by parents and hate groups in regard to tolerance.

Active racists in our country account for a small percentage of the population, yet their impact can alter our nation’s course. With a mere bullet, they take away our leaders and our dignity. The violence, and assassinations need to be treated as domestic terrorism; this would enable all the three letter agencies, to bring the full weight of justice against the small-minded few. After all, divided we fall.

America needs all her people from all walks of life in order to remain strong, competitive and free. If only we are united by a unifying commitment to each other as Americans, that is.