Spotlight on Belonging

As trust declines how do people find where they belong?

It’s well known that Americans have a heavy distrust of politicians and the media, but what about each other?

Trust is the glue that holds society together and as the years go on mistrust between neighbors, friends, and average citizens in the U.S. is growing. Fewer Americans have close friends to turn to or a community that they feel a sense of belonging in. The pandemic shook up social cohesion even more and drove people to find their tribe online. Some joined market-moving Reddit groups, mutual aid collectives, or even militia movements.

In the past, the group you belonged to was prescribed based on religion, family origins, or social class. Now we have the ability to choose the groups we belong to at a time when the ways in which we relate to each other are rapidly in flux. As the years go on we will all be tasked with looking outward and inward to determine who we will become in these communities of our own making.

If COVID has taught me anything, it’s that community matters more than government.

Black Ashley, @ashleysimpo

 

 

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