2. Final Project: Diversity and Your Community
• Resources: Appendix A.
• Write a 1,400- to 1,750-word autobiographical research paper that analyzes the influences of diversity as it relates to your community. In your paper, write your first-person account of how human interactions in your community have been racialized. For the community, you may consider relations within your neighborhood, local government, service groups, clubs, schools, workplace, or any environment of which you are a part.
• Answer the following questions and provide examples:
o Do members of your community look like you? In what ways do they look the same or different?
o How do leaders within your community treat people who are like you? How do they treat people who are different?
o How do other members of your community treat people who are like you? How do they treat people who are different?
o Do your texts or work manuals contain information by or about people like you?
o Do the local media represent people like you? If so, in what ways?
o What are some similarities and differences between you and the people who are in leadership positions in your community? Do you think minority group interests are represented within your community?
o If you could resolve any inequities within your community, what would you change? How and why?
o Which main concepts from the text relate to diversity ? Apply some of these concepts to your project.
• Include the following elements in your paper:
o The thesis addresses racial issues in your local community.
o The content is comprehensive and accurate.
o The paper itself draws on your personal experiences with and opinions about cultural diversity in your community.
o Three sources are used, and one source is a community member, leader, or representative from a local community organization.
o The paper is written in first-person point of view, with an autobiographical approach.
o Text concepts are applied to your observations.
o Assignment questions are answered.
o The paper includes perspectives from supporting sources.
o The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points.
o Paragraph transitions are present.
o The tone is appropriate.
o Sentences are well-constructed.
o The paper, title page, and references follow APA standards.
o Rules of grammar, usage, and punctuation are followed.
o Spelling is correct.
Can you read my rough draft and tell me improvements that need to be made? I am not finished and still need to write my thesis statement and conclusion. Please tell me what you think and if I need to start completely over. Thank you
Diversity in My Community
Wichita Falls, Texas is my hometown. It is a community made up of few ethnicities, but together we are a strong community. Wichita Falls is twenty-nine miles from the Oklahoma boarder. We are a family oriented city conveniently located within two hours of two metropolitan areas with populations exceeding one million citizens; Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.
Growing up I was never immersed in cultural diversity. The school I went to everyone was White and we all shared the same customs, culture, religion, and skin color you could say we were all clones. When I was a junior in high school I decided I wanted more diversity in my life and moved to Wichita Falls. I only moved twenty miles away but found myself at a huge school that was diverse. At first, it was a cultural shock that there were people of all ethnic groups attending this school. I met students like myself but was of different races, culture, religion, and language. After meeting some of the students I realized that I did not know anything about their cultural nor religion. I felt as if I was in a different country because of the lack of knowledge I had. Students treated me like an outsider which resulted in me moving back to my hometown. After the completion of high school I moved back to Wichita Falls insight of job opportunities.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wichita Falls is 76% White, 13% African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native Asian,0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino of any race 16% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010) . The members of my community look like me. If we take a look at my neighborhood we will people of different color mostly Mexican. My neighbors may be Mexican but they treat me with respect and we all look out for one another. Other than different color, cultural, religion and sometimes language we will find they are people just like you and me. The community leaders of my community treat everyone with the utmost respect. My community leaders are all White except for one African American councilwoman. In my interview with Councilor Dorothy Roberts-Burns I asked, “Is there any racial issues in our community?” She replied, “Not at this moment, in the past we have had problems with gangs but not currently.” She then stated, “Most of our community’s problems are drug related that has nothing to do with race” (D. Roberts-Burns, personal communication, January 6, 2011). My community leaders look pass color and provide equal service to all. The members in my community treat everyone with respect. If we look at my neighborhood that is mostly Mexicans you will see that they are very friendly even though their English may not be that good. My neighbors come over to use the telephone, borrow trash bags, or even bring us leftover cake from their son’s birthday party. Our community is very friendly and loving.
My texts and work manuals do contain information by or about people like me. They also represent people who are different from me. My text book contains information about people of all races and cultures. The local media also represents people like me. The media presents local stories about people and issues that are important to our community. While talking to Darrell Franklin the local news anchor, I asked, “Are there any racial issues in our community?” He replied, “No.” I then asked, “Do you think the minorities are represented fairly?” He said, “Yes, I don’t see why not (D. Franklin, personal communication, January 19, 2011). I searched through the news archives to see if I could find any racial concerns, racial problems or race related incidents in my community. I came up empty handed. The only issues I found were dealing with drugs, trailer house fires, car wrecks, and community projects to improve the community.
The similarities between me and the people who are in leadership position in my community are we have the same cultural, language, race, and similar values. We are all striving to be better people and make a difference in the community. The differences between me and the people in leadership positions is they are educated and very goal oriented. If I could resolve any inequities within my community, what would I change and why? I do not see any inequities in my community. If I did see inequities within my community I would talk to a city councilor because they would be the ones to resolve the problem. My community leaders take their careers very seriously and resolve any issues that may come up time appropriate manner.
The community I live in is very quiet, low crime rate, and an overall a wonderful place to live. I have new found respect for my community and community leaders.
Great paper! :-)
Is this an okay thesis statement? Can you help me write a conclusion?
Thesis statement: It is a community made up of few ethnicities, but together we are a strong community.
Conclusion: The community I live in is very quiet, low crime rate, and an overall a wonderful place to live. I have new found respect for my community and community leaders.
They look good.
This is my finished essay. I don't think I used transtions very well please tell me what you think.This is the first time I have had to use headers. Did I use them properly? This essay is my final.
Diversity in My Community
Wichita Falls, Texas, is my hometown. My community is made up of few ethnicities, but together we are a strong community. Wichita Falls is 29 miles from the Oklahoma boarder. We are a family oriented city conveniently located within two hours of two metropolitan areas with populations exceeding one million citizens; Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City.
Growing up I was never immersed in cultural diversity. The school I went to everyone was White, and we shared the same customs, culture, religion, and skin color you could say we were clones. When I was a junior in high school, I decided I wanted more diversity in my life and moved to Wichita Falls. I only moved 20 miles away but found myself at a huge school that was diverse. At first, it was a cultural shock that there were people of all ethnic groups attending this school. The high school had 47% White, 35% Hispanic, 15% African American, 0.3% Native American, and 1.8% Asian attending (Diversitydata and Harvard School of Public Health, 2011). I met students like myself but was of different races, culture, religion, and language. After meeting some of the students, I realized that I did not know anything about their cultural nor religion. I felt as if I were in a different country because of the lack of knowledge I had. Students treated me like an outsider, which resulted in me moving back to my hometown. After the completion of high school, I moved back to Wichita Falls insight of job opportunities.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wichita Falls is 76% White, 13% African American, 0.7% American Indian and Alaska Native Asian,0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and Hispanic or Latino of any race 16% (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010) . The members of my community look like me. If we take a look at my neighborhood we will people of different color mostly Mexican. My neighbors may be Mexican but they treat me with respect, and we look out for one another. Other than different color, cultural, religion and sometimes language we will find they are people just like you and me. The community leaders of my community treat everyone with the utmost respect. My community leaders are White except for one African American councilwoman. In my interview with Councilor Dorothy Roberts-Burns I asked, “Is there any racial issues in our community?” She replied, “Not at this moment, in the past we have had problems with gangs but not currently.” She then stated, “Most of our community’s problems are drug related that has nothing to do with race” (D. Roberts-Burns, personal communication, January 6, 2011). My community leaders look pass color and provide equal service to all. The members in my community treat everyone with respect. If we look at my neighborhood we will see it is mostly Mexicans. You will see that they are very friendly even though their English may not be that good. My neighbors come over to use the telephone, borrow trash bags, or even bring us leftover cake from their son’s birthday party. Our community is very friendly and loving.
Local Media
My texts and work manuals do contain information by or about people like me. They also represent people who are different from me. My textbook contains information about people of all races and cultures. The local media also represents people like me. The media presents local stories about people and issues that are important to our community. While talking to Darrell Franklin the local news anchor, I asked, “Are there any racial issues in our community?” He replied, “No.” I then asked, “Do you think the minorities are represented fairly?” He said, “Yes, I don’t see why not (D. Franklin, personal communication, January 19, 2011). I searched through the news archives to see if I could find any racial concerns, racial problems, or race-related incidents in my community. I came up empty handed. The only issues I found were dealing with drugs, trailer house fires, car wrecks, and community projects to improve the community. There was one tragedy that shook our town to its core less than nine months ago. I was astonished that no one spoke of this immense tragedy.
Tragedy in a Small City
On the night of April 20, 2010 a young man went to Hasting Entertainment and fired several rounds from a shotgun. Three White females and one African American female were shot. While first responders treated the victims they received another call of shots fired (Millender, 2010). He then went to Toby’s Bar and Grill where he shot several more rounds. The door greeter shielded others from the gunshots in hopes to save lives. He was died instantly while trying to protect people. The gunman then screamed “white power” as he continued to shoot. The gunman then went back to his sister’s house and shot himself in the head. People started to realize that it was Adolf Hitler’s birthday and also marked the 11th anniversary of the massacre at Columbine High School in Colorado. The Police interviewed dozens of witnesses and had been told about racial slurs. The Sheriff said the jail did not have any records showing the gunman to have claimed affiliation to a gang or supremacist group when being booked into jail on previous charges (Millender, 2010). No matter to how big or small the town you live there could always be someone with evil intentions walking among the crowd.
Leadership Position
The similarities between me and the people who are in leadership position in my community are we have the same cultural, language, race, and similar values. We are all striving to be better people and make a difference in the community. The differences between me and the people in leadership positions is that they are educated and very goal-oriented. If I could resolve any inequities within my community, what would I change and why? I do not see any inequities in my community. If I did see inequities within my community I would talk to a city councilor because they would be the ones to resolve the problem. My community leaders take their careers very seriously and resolve any issues that may come up time appropriate manner.
Looking Ahead
In 50 years I think Wichita Falls will be more ethnically and culturally diverse. As immigrants come across the border and enter Texas they will eventually migrate to Wichita Falls. We are 16% Hispanic and will have a steady increase for years to come.
Hispanics coming across the border will look to their family members in Wichita Falls for a place to live and help them find a job. Wichita Falls is home to Sheppard Air Force Base, which is the US Air Force’s largest technical training operation and NATO pilot training program. I think Sheppard Air Force Base will bring a variety of ethnical and culturally diverse people here. As the years go by Wichita Falls become more diverse. Hopefully, in the future we will see more minorities in places of power. I want to see more minorities on the city council, news anchors, school system, doctor’s office, lawyers and optimistically one day mayor.The community I live in is very calm, low crime rate, and an overall an extraordinary place to live. I have new found respect for my community and community leaders. Hugh Newell Jacobsen once said, “When you look at a city, it’s like reading the hopes, aspirations and pride of everyone who built it. I am proud to be a member of my community and to help encourage diversity. Wichita Falls may have few ethnic groups now, but the future holds a change.
Sorry about the mutiple postings. It kept saying I had a web address which I didn't. I left out a few lines because of it.
Title: Diversity in My Community
Introduction:
Wichita Falls, Texas, my hometown, is a community that is characterized by its strong sense of unity despite being composed of a few ethnicities. Located near the Oklahoma border and within two hours of Dallas-Fort Worth and Oklahoma City, Wichita Falls is a family-oriented city with a population that exceeds one million citizens in total. Growing up, I was not exposed to much cultural diversity as my school consisted mainly of white students who shared the same customs, culture, religion, and skin color.
Embracing Diversity:
However, during my junior year of high school, I decided to seek out more diversity and moved to Wichita Falls. This move placed me in a large school with a diverse student body consisting of people from different ethnic groups, cultures, religions, and languages. Initially, I experienced a cultural shock due to my lack of knowledge about their customs and religions. I felt like I was in a different country.
Community Demographics:
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wichita Falls is predominantly white, with African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives, Asians, and Hispanics making up smaller percentages of the population. In my own neighborhood, the majority of people are of Mexican descent. Despite these differences, my neighbors treat me with respect, and we all look out for one another. Beyond these external differences, our community members share commonalities such as hopes, dreams, and a desire for a safe and prosperous community.
Leadership and Community Treatment:
Community leaders in Wichita Falls, for the most part, treat everyone with respect, regardless of their race or ethnicity. Most of the community leaders in my neighborhood are white, with the exception of an African American councilwoman. In an interview with Councilor Dorothy Roberts-Burns, she stated that there were no current racial issues in the community and that problems in the past related more to gangs than race. It is clear that community leaders consciously and consistently strive to provide equal services to all residents.
Treatment by Community Members:
Community members in Wichita Falls generally treat everyone with respect. For instance, despite the language barrier that may exist due to some of my neighbors' limited proficiency in English, they are friendly and often engage in neighborly acts of kindness, such as borrowing items or sharing food. The community as a whole creates a friendly and loving atmosphere, regardless of differences in cultural backgrounds.
Representation in Texts, Work Manuals, and Media:
In terms of representation, I have found that my texts and work manuals do contain information about people like me, as well as people who are different. They present a diverse range of races and cultures. The local media also represents people like me, as they cover local stories and issues that are important to the community. In an interview with Darrell Franklin, a local news anchor, he confirmed that there were no racial issues in the community and that minorities were fairly represented in the media.
Similarities and Differences with Community Leaders:
When comparing myself to the people in leadership positions in my community, we share similarities in terms of cultural background, language, race, and values. Overall, we all strive to be better individuals and make a positive impact within the community. However, the main difference lies in their higher levels of education and their strong sense of goal orientation.
Conclusion:
My community in Wichita Falls is a quiet and tight-knit one, with a low crime rate and an overall pleasant living environment. Through this research and self-reflection, I have gained a newfound respect for my community and its leaders. While there may not be any significant inequities present, should any issues arise, I am confident that the community leaders will address them promptly and effectively.