46. to be sold into slavery.Though people all share a common American culture,the nation contains many racial and ethnic subcultures with their own distinctive characteristics.These differences might seem trivial or irrelevant to outside observers,but they have contributed to racial conflicts that have been a persistent social problem to American society. 46. to be sold into slavery. Though people all share a common American culture, the nation contains many racial and ethnic subcultures with their own distinctive characteristics. These differences might seem trivial or irrelevant to outside observers, but they have contributed to racial conflicts that have been a persistent social problem to American society