Race and My Community
Lakeysha Talley
ETH 125
February 13, 2011
Maudine Johnson

Race and My Community

Although economic status does not indicate the measure of a person’s heart and people tend to express themselves in a politically correct manner versus their true feelings, income levels penetrate racial and ethnic divides by allowing a variety of people to cohabitate and learn about each other this does not however equate to equality. The members of my community vary in ethnicity and races. In any given day I can go for a walk and see Asian, Hispanic, Middle Eastern, Black, and White people. I can recall always thinking that my prior hometown of New York City was a melting pot and although it was home to many ethnic groups and races. There was a definite lack of melting because most groups lived quite segregated. I can remember thinking to myself when I moved south to North Carolina that I would likely encounter racism. My time of eight years spent here has rendered those thoughts to be true. I am older and wise enough to know that the location of a person bears no weight in the content of his or her character. In my apartment building there are people who look like me as well as people who do not. The population of Raleigh as of 2010 was 394,744 and the majority of the people are White at 61.8%, Black or African American at 29.6%, American Indian and Alaskan Native at 06%, Asian at 3.9%, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander N/A, Some other race at 5.5% (Raleighnc.gov, 2011). The city of Raleigh is home to Shaw University, which is the first Black college of the south. While living in North Carolina I have had the pleasure of interacting with people of different races and ethnicities. This has helped me to learn about them and their traditions. The place where I gained the most insight was at my workplace. I worked for a company that is owned by China. The people I worked with were Asian, Middle Eastern, African American, and White. The professional climate may have had a huge impact on their behavior; however, everyone seemed friendly and courteous. I found that the most offensive thing I incurred was the use of slang. It seems that some people think that it makes them more acceptable if they talk to a person in what they feel is his or her language. As I look back at how other ethnicities were treated, I would say professionally, however there is always water cooler talk. Stereotypes regarding intelligence were used in reference to the Asian and Middle Eastern people. It seemed they held the majority of the senior management technical jobs. They were often the victims of positive stereotypes like the model minority. Many of my fellow African Americans also believed there was a good old boy atmosphere prevalent. It seemed as if the majority of the management team was White. This was true in numbers and obvious in meetings. In considering the numbers regarding the population of Raleigh, I am left to wonder why there is no percentage given to our Hispanic population. This definitely makes me wonder if all the Mexicans that I see here are illegal immigrants. This is a group that has become a scapegoat for many people. Often I hear the complaints of people upset with the language barrier. I do understand their frustration because Mexicans are very prevalent in the service and labor industry. The reality is that there should be more programs in place to encourage bilingualism. In my view the new subordinate group in a community becomes a scapegoat often in times of economic despair. The Mexicans in my community hold many of the positions in fast food restaurants or in landscaping. Many people believe that this has caused a lack of available jobs for American teenagers. In the workplace I find that our manuals encourage the embracing of all cultures, races, and ethnicities. The recognition of various holidays and cultural events celebrate the different cultures. I am sure I would know very little of the Chinese New Year before my job. There are also events where we have potlucks and share different foods from our different cultures. This has proven to be an opportune time to learn about other cultures because it is a relaxing time on the job. The local media definitely plays a part in the way people of different races are perceived. I can recall a comedian making a joke about how one can tell the race of a person by the crime that has beencommitted. The most unsettling thing I find about the media is the lack of coverage on cases that involve a crime committed against a Black person versus a White person. This is unfortunately not a local media issue but a nationwide one. The stories seem to fade from the news rather quickly and seldom generate headlines. The room for improvement concerning the obstacles we endure in life is always present. I would like to change a few of those obstacles within my community for example in law enforcement there is a pressing concern that I have for the well being of my Black men. As the sister of an African American male, I am very concerned with racial profiling. My brother has expressed the prejudice he has encountered from law enforcement. Unfortunately, I did receive the opportunity to witness it firsthand. A routine traffic stop gave me a glimpse into his reality. I was the driver and he was the passenger and the officer’s eyes on him were presumptuous to say the least. He even asked him if he was okay, I could only wonder what may have happened if he were alone. These acts can be prevented by proper training of law enforcement as well as the inclusion of a class in tolerance. White superiority still occupies a space in our modern time. Race still matters in North Carolina when it comes to handing down the death penalty for those convicted of murder. That’s a finding of a study by researchers at the University of Colorado, which shows that, among similar homicides, the odds of a death sentence for those suspected of killing a White person are approximately three times higher than the odds of death for killing a black person (The Charlotte Post). There always has been a feeling amongst African Americans that their lives are not valued as much as their White counterparts. The study reflects this so it is no longer just hearsay. The next issue facing my community is re-segregation in schools. The North Carolina NAACP may sue in order to force Wake County to maintain its policy of busing to create socioeconomic diversity in schools (The North Carolina Justice Center, 2009). The thought of this definitely gives me feeling of African Americans setback versus progressing. The current rules allow bussing up to 30 miles while the new rule would not allow it. This means that people from poor neighborhoods would be subjected to attending schools in those poor areas. My solution to this is rather simple improve the schools in the poor neighborhoods with the money that will be saved from bussing. The community of African Americans in Raleigh NC could benefit from becoming more involved in their community. In numbers there is strength and, I do feel there is a bit of complacency based on feelings of being hopeless or helpless. Education is the key as many people can see the economic inequality but to read it as facts and figures makes it very real. In conclusion, the people of my community vary in ethnicity and race yet maintain peace amongst one another. The neighborhood that I live in includes a mixture of different races and ethnicities. It is a middleclass neighborhood and consists of many homeowners. The median income in this area allows people to live together in a predominantly safe and clean environment. The community consists of working class educated people. This donates to the civil and politically correct treatment of other races. However, inequality still exists in my community in places where it matters greatly. These areas are education, the judicial system, unemployment, and law enforcement. There are lips that smile and hands that wave while inside harboring stereotypes, prejudices, and contempt for others solely based on the color of their skin.

Reference
Raleighnc.gov. (02/08/2011). Raleigh Demographics. Retrieved from http://www.raleighnc.gov/home/content/PlanLongRange/Articles/RaleighDemographics.html The North Carolina Justice Center. (2009). NC JUSTICE NEWS: Paid Sick Leave, School Resegregation, Health Reform and more. Retrieved from http://www.ncjustice.org/?q=node/406 The Charlotte Post. (2010). Race matters in N.C. death penalty cases. Retrieved from http://www.thecharlottepost.com/index.php?src=news&srctype=detail&category=News&refno=2822