Race and Your Community

Race and Your Community Sandra Gifford ETH125 December 4, 2011 Phillip Auld, Instructor

Race and Your Community

Race and Your Community There are racial issues and forms of cultural diversity in every community. However, they vary in severity and strength from one community to another. In Cedar Springs Michigan, where I live the racial issues are slim and the diversity is strong. Nevertheless, it has not always been this way and eighteen years, ago this was not even, close to how it was when I moved to Cedar Springs. The population then was 98% white American, 1% Asian American, and 1% some other race (city-data.com). The leaders of the community were very old school and believed in only the white race (Watson 2011). That way of thinking is pretty, much gone and these day's diversity is the new way of life (Watson 2011). Today, the new population includes Native American, African American, Hispanic American, Hawaiian American, Asian or Pacific

Islander, and even Eskimo (americantowns.com). The white American race may still be the majority in Cedar Springs. However, the other races above are now a part of our community and are all respected. These ethnic groups and their cultures are represented in our community and are teaching us many of their ways. Community Leaders Some of the leaders of the community look like me but there are a few. Mayor Watson has Irish descent as I do. However, I have Native American descent also so I have darker skin than he does. There is the likeness of my Auburn hair with members of the community, beings many of them are Irish descent but that is about the only resemblance. Mayor Watson and Principle Behrenwald both believes diversity are the only way in which we should raise our children. The accepting of different races and their cultures is, strongly accepted and learned from (Watson 2011). The schools have other schools come and have diversity nights throughout the school year (Behrenwald

Race and Your Community

2011). This type of interaction with other schools and students of all races as made the blending of races in our schools easier for children to accept. Race Relations When I first moved to Cedar Springs, I had come from a community of 100% white Americans, or so they thought. My family is of Irish and Native American descent, so as far as looks go, we resemble the Irish side with Auburn hair yet we had darker skin. This is what I mean by they thought the community was 100 % white American. This made fitting in easier because the idea of diversity was non- existent. The way the members of the community treated anyone who was not white was appalling. This made growing up difficult as our town had many migrant workers who came to work the fruit farms. There was the want to become friends with these people but also a fear of being, ridiculed or hated if you did. This way of being raised made accepting of other races difficult as a child. However, as I matured so did my acceptance or others and the learning of diversity emerged in my life. Then I moved to Cedar Springs and much to my surprise. They had some of the same views of other races, as did my hometown. Nevertheless, Cedar Springs has grown and diversity is how life is led. The members of the community accept new comers with open arms (Kim 2011). The starting of a new business is always difficult, especially when you are from another ethnicity. However, this is not how it was with the residents of Cedar Springs; they made us feel welcome and showed us great respect (Kim 2011). These are strong and convincing words of the Kims a Chinese American family who opened a restaurant in Cedar Springs. This is what I have also felt over the years that I am part of the community, and I as well see how others are treated, and it always seems good. The interests of all minorities are, represented in a yearly celebration called Red Flannel

Race and Your Community Days. This is a week filled with learning about all cultures, our towns past, and the tasting of different ethnic foods. The library does offer books in other languages, and some stores offer text and manuals in different languages. The Chinese and Mexican restaurant offer, their menus in English as well as in Chinese and Spanish. Local Media

The local media in Cedar Springs is a small paper The Cedar Springs Post that is, given out to everyone who lives there. This little paper represents the goings-on of what is happening in our small town. They post news about businesses adds, crime, family crisis, school events and the welcoming of new businesses among much more. Do they look like me as I stated above some of the people of the town look like me but not many? The paper does represent diversity. They acknowledge all races within the paper. The schools are, mostly represented in the paper announcing upcoming events such as diversity nights and welcoming new students from other countries. Inequities within your Community The one inequity I have witnessed and needs changing is that some of the students from other races expect special treatment. The reason they expect the special treatment is because they are of a different race, and they will state this to your face (Gifford 2011). This issue has caused some resentment and needs addressing as those that expect special treatment are receiving the special treatment. This does not make teaching diversity easy when there is partiality being shown to one race and not another. The throwing out of the race card as the students of the high school say is not the way to solve problems this only adds to them (Gifford 2011). The way I would resolve this issue is to make everyone responsible for their actions and that no one person is given special treatment over another. The other thing I think would be a nice

Race and Your Community change is to have the post written in different languages for those who read in different languages. Terms and Concepts The terms and concepts that had the largest impact on me in this course where stereotyping and assimilation. I have been a witness to stereotyping all my life but

never realized that most of it comes from the media. The thought in my head was that it was, taught at home from racist parents. This is because my father was raciest, and he is who I witnessed doing most of the stereotyping. Assimilation I have found is hard for all races or groups to adjust, into. When one goes through a process to take on or learn the culture of another group this is assimilation. This is not an easy task when these other groups do not want to accept you as part of their culture. Why try to assimilate is my thought when you are not wanted? Nevertheless, this is not the way of life and as the United States grows through immigration, we must learn to accept all other racial groups.

There are many interesting things, I learned during my research of my community. The Mayor of Cedar Springs is of my generation and was, raised as I with a racist father and an abundance of stereotyping expressed in the household. The racism was an issue until his sister as mine married another race. The mixing of the races made our fathers less critical of other races. There is also the fact that Cedar Springs at one time was and believed in only the white race. Mayor Watson expressed his want and need for diversity in our little town no more of the old way of thinking. The Principle of the high school Mr. Behrenwald is an extraordinary man with strong beliefs when it comes to diversity. Through the diversity in my community, we have teachers of all races as well

Race and Your Community as students. The once all white communities that thought they were the only race to exist is now a mixture of many races that get along very well. I am proud of the community I live in and have the want to stay here. Cedar Springs is a great place to raise a child and teach them through school, the community, and ones- self whom all

people are to be, treated as their equal. This I guess is why Cedar Springs motto is we are a great place to live, play, and grow.

Race and Your Community

References www.americantown.com/m/cedarsprings/info/population. Retrieved on December 3, 2011. www.city-data.com/city/cedar-springs-michigan.html Retrieved on December 2, 2011. Behrenwald, Ron Principal of high school(2011). Retrieved on November 28, 2011 Gifford, Rhiannon daughter. (2011). Retrieved on November 26, 2011 Watson, Charlie Mayor, (2011). Retrieved on November 25, 2011