Race Ethnicity The Colors of My Neighborhood 1

Race & Ethnicity The Colors of My Neighborhood 1

Table of Contents Reflection Page Research Article Charts Picture 2

Before enrolling in this class, my knowledge of racial and ethnic relations was based solely on life experience; I never understood the reasons behind the tension between the races. After completing the semester, I learned why certain groups have been discriminated against in the past, what discrimination issues are present in today’s United States, and I was enlightened on matters relating to race affecting people around the world. One of the most interesting sections of the book was the chapter on the whitening of Brazil. As America attempts to put the past of racial tensions behind us, it seems that Brazil is doing the exact opposite; embracing prejudice against the Black population. In Brazilian society, one cannot move up the social latter unless you appear to be white/lighter in skin color. The trend is for blacks to marry whites to blur the lines of race. Aside from miscegenation, Brazil gives preference to immigrants that come from Europe to help aid in the whitening of Brazil. Like Brazil, I feel that Utah’s black population is suffering from a sense of identity. Although there is no pressure to “whiten” the black population in Utah, the lack of an African-American community by default is causing a melding of the race. After reading Dr. Tyler’s book “Our Corner of the World, ” I learned that this community does not have strong ties to one another, and has not experienced being black. “Black people were not really Black people. They didn’t have the experience of being Black. For example, because they are isolated, they basically distrust other Black folks” (Tyler 137). I hope to change the neighborhood that I live in by being a better neighbor. This class has opened my eyes to the issues that surround me and the people I live around. I have developed a self-understanding of the social construction of race, and how race effects interpersonal relationships. 3

Research Article According to the 2010 U. S. Census Bureau data, well-off African. Americans are leaving big cities and settling in the suburbs. “Despite some gains for middle-class blacks, African-Americans on average last year still had rising poverty and worsening economic situations compared with whites. The mostly suburban counties where blacks had growing and higher-than-average income make up about 19 percent of the black population. That’s compared with 45 percent of blacks who lived in urban counties and small towns where black incomes fell relative to whites. ” (Washington). The rest of the article goes on to say that there is a gap between black families who live in different neighborhoods and those that attend different schools and live different lives. 4

My Neighborhood Whites 49% Hispanics 6% Other Groups 7% Blacks 6% Asians 5% *Data from the New York Times based on samples from 2005 to 2009 5

Comparative Statistics 2010* Salt Lake City White persons 75. 1% Black persons 2. 7% American Indian and Alaska Native persons 1. 2% Asian persons 4. 4% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 2. 0% Persons reporting two or more races 3. 7% Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin 22. 3% White persons not Hispanic 65. 6% Utah White persons 86. 1% Black persons 1. 1% American Indian and Alaska Native persons 1. 2% Asian persons 2. 0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0. 9% Persons reporting two or more races 2. 7% Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin 13. 0% White persons not Hispanic 80. 4% 6

Taryn I met Taryn and his family while living at the Road Home homeless shelter. Taryn, his parents, his three sisters, and brother moved here from California. They have had a difficult time living in Salt Lake City, as there is no black community for them to associate with. Taryn’s parents worry that he is going to lose some of his racial identity due to the lack of a racial bond in Salt Lake City. 7