Race in my community

Running Head: RACE IN MY COMMUNITY

Race in My Community By: Lee Hannah Axia College of University of Phoenix March 6, 2011 Instructor/ Jerry Knight ETH/125

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Abstract I live in a small town called Wadley that is located in Georgia. The current population as of July 2009 was 1,934 people. My town is made up of three races: Whites, African Americans, and Mexicans. Here in Wadley, there are approximately 1,312 African Americans, 194 Whites, and 132 Mexicans. Even though we are supposed to all be equal, there is still some form of prejudice and discrimination.

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Race in my community African Americans Life for African Americans has not always been easy. African Americans have faced migrations, prejudice, and racism over the years. African Americans started their lives in America because of forced migration from Africa. The first forced migration was the transatlantic slave trade which carried black people to America. The second was the internal slave trade which transported the black people from the Atlantic Coast to the inner of the American South. The third migration carried people from the south to the urban north (Berlin, 2005). In the last decades of the seventeenth century, slaves were imported directly from Africa and first landed in the Chesapeake in large number. Africans that were being shipped to the New World had to endure trauma of enslavement (Berlin, 2005). Africans were captured from the inner part of Africa. They faced a deadly march to the coast. Many slaves died on the march to the coast because of disease and some committed suicide by jumping overboard (Bigelow). The slave trade was a profitable venture. The more slaves that were transported to the New World on one ship, the more the traders made. African slaves were forced to board the ship naked and with no personal belongings and for the first time they met white men. These men used brandishing hot irons to mark their slaves. The Africans were chained together in pairs and were crammed by hundreds. They laid side by side in endless rows with no room to more or exercise and barely enough air to breathe (Bigelow). Enslaved Africans came to the conclusion that white men were devils (Berlin, 2005). Surviving that was just the test forced immigrants had to face. After being below deck for several weeks, shaking with apprehension, the slaves were

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put into new shackles in their new homeland (Berlin, 2005). Slaves were forced to work for many hours at unfamiliar duties. In the mid 1700s, majority of Africans in America lived in the Southern Atlantic colonies because the plantation system has the greatest demand for black labor (Bigelow). Slaves that were freed had to face racial hatred, legalized discrimination, and economic and political injustice in the white world. The freed slaves did not have any money, livestock, or land to establish their own farming community. Freed slaves began to tenant farm but did not get paid fairly. African Americans faced prejudice, racism, and segregation. African Americans had to deal with prejudice during the Jim Crow era (1890 to 1940). Jim Crow laws were state and national laws in the United States that segregated all public facilities for whites and blacks. Millions of African Americans were attacked, brutalized, and killed but mostly frightened to death for voting and taking formal education (Magar). Africans Americans were hung in front of the community for petty reasons. African Americans had to use separate bathrooms from white people. Here in Wadley, I believe there is still a form of slavery. I say this because there are many African Americans who are housekeepers for Whites. Even though today they are paid, I still do not think it is right that White people only get African American people to do the housework. Then there are the husbands of these women who work on the farms. I believe that they chose that form of job because it is the only thing they know. I do feel that they are not paid enough money for all the work and hours they put in.

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Mexicans Mexico gained its independence in 1821, but the formation of the national culture remained a difficult task because of political instability, foreign invasions, and military uprisings (Ansters, 2011). The primary language for Mexicans is Spanish. The heart of Mexican dishes consists of three main ingredients: beans, corn, and hot peppers. Mexico has numerous occasions that called for special food. The Dia de la Candelaris which is on February 2nd celebrates the purification of Mary and the presence and blessing of Jesus. After the ceremony families join together for tamales. Mexico is a federal republic and its government operates under a centralized government. Government powers are divided between executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Mexicans extended family members are very important to them. They very often seek opportunities to gather with each other. Mexico has a free-market economy that has a mixture of traditional and modern industry and agriculture (Ansters, 2011). Mexican economy has experienced internationalization, privatization, and deregulation. The dominant religion in Mexico is Roman Catholicism. Catholic beliefs pervade the like of Mexicans. Mexicos religious rituals are determined by the Catholic calendar with Easter being the most important. Each community in Mexico has its own patron saint which they can honor with processions and fiestas every year (Ansters, 2011). About of the Mexicans that live here in Wadley are illegal. Over the last couple of weeks there has been seventy-five Mexicans that were fired from a company called Battle Lumber because they were illegal. For some reason the company had been under investigation with the immigration people. I feel that it was wrong of the company to fire them because from

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the start they knew they were illegal. After being loyal to the company for many years, many people are without a job and do not know what to do. In my community the majority of people look similar to me. We are all African American but come in many different shades of color. We all have close to the same hair texture. In my community I would have to say the leaders treat people like me in a respectful way. Since my town is small everyone knows each other. Leaders in Wadley, treat everyone the same regardless of their race. For the most part African Americans are treated fairly. There are those few people who still practice racism and discrimination. My wife works at a convenient store in twon. The owner of the store always think that all black people are going to steal. He will walk around and follow and group of African Americans especially young men to see if they are going to steal. Personally, I think he is rascist in some ways. Just because you are blavck doesn not mean you are going to steal. The local media in my area does have people that represent people like me. On the Channel 6 news, there is a black host along with a White person. I believe that any body can be what they want to be if they put their mind to it. I see so many African Americans who have made something of themselves. I had the chance to interview the new Police Chief Mr. Wesley Lewis. Mr. Lewis was appointed the position of chief when the old own resigned. Before Mr. Lewis became chief, there were so many complaints about the police department. The officers that were on the force was always messing with some one. They would pull people over for no reason at all. One night I was riding with my wife to the store. We got all the way home and realized that we had forgotten something so we went back. It was about two in the morning as I recall. On the way back, we passed a police car going in the opposite direction. The car immediately turned around and put the sirens on. When the officer approached the car, I ask him why he was pulling me over. He

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stated because I seen you past me twice. I thought that was the most ridiculous thing that someone had ever said. During the interview I asked Mr. Lewis has the number of complaints decreased since he became chief? W. Lewis (personal communication, February 25, 2011) stated the number of complaints has decreased drastically. According to the chief, because of the transformation the Wadley Police team people are being treated with respect and equally. I would like to see more harmony between people of other races. I think because this is a small town we live in; we all need to stick together. Even though times have changed, people still face some form of discrimination and prejudice. In my community, I still see some of these forms from certain people. I feel that is tool short to be living with hatred for other people. If one can not let go of such hatred, their life will be full of misery. People need to remember that it is important to treat others the way you want to be treated. I live by this rule in order to get respect, you must give respect.

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References Ansters, W (2011). Mexico. Countries and their Cultures. Retrieved on February 20, 2011 from http://www.everyculture.com/Ma-Ni/Mexico.html Berlin, I (2005). African Immigration to Colonial America. Retrieved on January 23, 2011 from www.gilderlehrman.org Bigelow, B. African American. Retrieved on January 23, 2011 from www.everyculture.com Magar, P. Racism against African Americans. Retrieved on January 24, 2011 from www.buzzle.com Schaefer, R, T. (2006). Racial and ethnic groups (10th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.