I’m a picture person. Recently, I thumbed through hundreds of photo and recognized similarities between my pictures and my granddaughter’s pictures over the years. It was almost like we were mirroring each other without knowing it!
I thought about the powerful poem, “Human Family,” by Maya Angelou. In the poem, she acknowledges superficial differences in cultures, personalities, and skin tones, but asserts that all people belong to a single, interconnected global family. We have shared human experiences and we should embrace this shared humanity.
In today’s world, we seem to be more overtly negative and hateful toward each other. Maybe it’s the power of the internet. People can express negative connotations without being identified.
I grew up in abject poverty in the segregated South, but never disliked anyone because they were different from me. I disliked systems that were put in place because of our differences. I dislike efforts made by people, mostly politicians, to divide us.
When I was growing up, I never knew what political party anyone belonged to. This included my parents. Now, adults act like petulant children. I understand and respect differences of opinions, but I don’t understand the wide divide we are seeing today. Growing up I didn’t hear the words “Right” or “Left” when describing political parents. What are the reasons for this political hostility?
Our media has an economic model that benefits from the name calling. Most digital media relies on attention metrics like clicks to compete for the public’s attention. According to research this divide accelerated around 2008 and thought to be marked by the global financial crisis and the election of our first Black president. The rise of social media and smart phones are the catalyst for the increase.
This brought me back to Maya Angelou’s poem. One verse reads, “I’ve sailed upon the seven seas and stopped in every land. I’ve seen the wonders of the world not yet one common man.”
My granddaughter was born generations after me. I wonder about the world she and others her age will be living in. I pray she’ll stay grounded.
Until then, I found joy in looking through our pictures and finding commonalities. In the words of Maya Angelou, “We are more alike my friends, than we are unalike.”
I agree with this wise woman.
Francie Mae. July 21, 2026
Reference
Wikipedia. Political polarization in the United States. Website. Accessed July 21, 2026.