Race and My Community
Tasha Brown
Axia College of University of Phoenix
I live in somewhat of a small community in Woodland, California. For such a small population, about 51,000, we have a very diverse group of residents that live and participate here. Some say it is a small version of a melting pot. Our demographics include; White, Hispanic, American Indian, Black, Arab Americans and Asians. In my direct community and neighborhood all race and ethnic groups choose to respect each other and our values and beliefs. My community chooses to practice pluralism instead of assimilation.
A large number of people in my community do not look like me. In fact, there are times that I feel like White people (not of Hispanic decent) are the minorities. There are some similarities. I wear the same type of clothes as most of the people around me; however some Arab-Americans in my community dress more modestly, covering up their whole body. There is a difference in skin color also. While I am very light skinned, other members of my community have a darker skin tone. I believe that just because we all do not look and dress the same, we all should be treated the same by others.
Woodlands’ leaders are not as diverse as the total population. In fact there is only one that is of Hispanic decent. The rest of them are White, not of Hispanic descent. The city counsel is made up of only five people, and that includes the mayor. The mayor, along with three other city counsel members look like me. The differences between me and the leaders of my community are simple. They are older, finished with college and have pursued a career in local politics. One similarity is the majority of them are White like me. Our physical characteristics, whether they are the same or not, have nothing to do with the goal they have set for themselves as leaders.
Leaders in my community do their part in representing all ethnic and racial groups. They try to make opportunities equal for...