Charles Murray is an American libertarian, political scientist, author, columnist, and pundit. In his essay, "The New American Divide," Murray analyzes that the problem America faces is one of cultural inequality. Murray supports his essay by comparing how high and low class has divided throughout the decades to the point of not caring about one another. The author's purpose is to persuade American citizens in order to regain stability and narrow the gap between classes, make classes care more about each other, as well as give explanation to why economic mobility has become almost a miracle in comparison to previous times.
As we mark the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's speech "I have a dream", here's one thing that is not getting a lot of attention, which is that class is the new race. A growing social and economic division is growing in society due to the new america. This division has to do more with education, morals, values, the unity of a family, work ethic and determination than with notions of race, gender and skin color. Our nation has gone a long way toward fulfilling Dr. King's dream and meet its demands, but along the way the same problem but with a different face appeared on us. As Charles Murray says "what we now face is a problem of cultural inequality"(348). Social and economic mobility is harder today for people starting at the bottom than any time in recent memory. The reasons, even though are not fully known, have more to do with where you are born than with race.
Inequality and economic mobility are related but not the same thing. People argue whether the system is fair and if it increases or reduces inequality. Yet most people agree that a society is better when economic mobility is only achieved through talent. America is the country of opportunities and even though economic classes distance people from richness or a better job, it is up to each and every one of us to endeavor into a better life.
