The York Problem

"The York Problem" by Herbert D. Kastle is a science fiction story set in a possible future, where a community named York is segregated due to racial tensions and resists joining the Galactic Federation. It tells the story of John Stevens, a teenager in York, as he deals with prejudice and the pressure to conform, all while struggling to understand who he is in this oppressive community. John's journey is complicated by ingrained biases and systemic violence, which make him question everything he knows. He makes a journey to the area inhabited by the majority population, forcing him to face his own prejudices and resulting in a violent conflict with serious results. As the Galactic Council intervenes with a drastic solution – forcibly changing the population's racial identity – John becomes a symbol of the clash between personal beliefs and societal expectations, highlighting issues from within and intervention from external forces.