Over generalizing?

My perspective: "People Like Us..." is a little too cynical. From my point of view, people only group together with the familiar because it is comfortable, not because they expressly or consciously choose to shun other cultures. My family is Brasilian, in Pensacola we live in a predominantly white neighborhood. But yes, we have neighbors of other skin tones and cultures. America is culturally diverse, I can't tell you the amount of people I meet on any given day with different views or culture than mine, and I get along with most everyone I meet. As far as his argument for most fine arts professors and professionals being democrats, it is not a bias. I can't imagine anyone refusing to hire a music professor just because he is a republican. I think it is a fact that people who choose fine arts tend to be more open minded and liberal, therefore left leaning. People who are more business minded might lean more to the right. I think it is a matter of preference on the part of the people who choose those professions, not employers refusing to let them in on the fun due to their beliefs.

Contemporary music artist: It's my job to create music for my fans and for myself. I don't want my audience to be limited to some specific demogaphic, but that is sometimes a reality. Hopefully I will appeal to a diverse group of people, but depending on what I perform it is likely a certain group will like my style more, my manager won't let me forget it. We and most other artists cater to an audience to help sales. I still don't think that is a conscious effort to segregate. Culture or race may have nothing to do with a persons personality being more drawn to my music. I'd say more often than race we'll target age groups.

30 years older than I...: In the time I was growing up I got to witness the blatent version of the segregation he discusses. It was very real and I know it is still very real. I see the same lines drawn, the same dived neighborhoods. I think it is a shame because for the most part I see these neighborhoods dived not only by race but financial standing. Some people put themselves there, others were drawn a difficult hand and couldn't work through it, and some were given the whole silver platter. Of course there are divisions in society, I don't believe that there will ever be an even playing field. People make judgements and group themselves based on what they know, see, and believe.