Race and Your Community
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Race and Your Community

While living in Austin, TX, I have seen the influences of each and every race

as it revolves around my community. I believe the relations in my community and

city have been racialized, positively and negatively. However, I do not believe these

interactions have directly affected affairs in my direct neighborhood, schools,

environment, clubs, and service/volunteer groups which I participate in. Even despite

the fact the leader of the community’s outlook of the community and individual race

is negative, the relations in my community show positive construction influences on

race and the our community. “This marks the third consecutive year for Austin to

appear among the three most popular places in the U.S. for Hispanics to live and

work”. (http://www.austintexas.org/media/press_releases/press_release?id=16, para

1). I will analyze whether members within my community bear a resemblance to my

characteristics and in the ways we look different and the same. As well as how the

leaders within my community handle people who are of Hispanic culture and if they

are treated differently. Also if members of my community treat individuals who are

of my culture any differently than the rest of the community. Also analyze texts and

work manuals to check for information by or about individuals of Hispanic culture.

Also if local media embody people like me, and if so, in the ways which they did. I

will also speak about some of the differences and similarities between me and the

individuals who stand in position of leadership in my community, and whether I feel

that minority group interests are represented within my community? Lastly, I will

also speak about if I could settle any negativities within my community, and how and

why if I would change anything.

I would have to say members within my community do bare a resemblance to

me and my heritage. My heritage is of Mexican, Spaniard, and Native American

background. If you took a glace my direction, you would take notice that I have

darker hair and eyes with an olive skin tone. No hesitation that I extend from a Latin

origin. Within my community of Austin, TX there are countless Mexican Americans

and a variety of Hispanic or Latino decent. According to Areaconnect.com:

“Hispanic or Latino race for Austin, TX equal a whopping 30.55% of the community.

23.44% as Mexican, 0.39% Puerto Rican, 0.22 % Cuban, and 6.51% Other Hispanic

or Latinos.” (http://austintx.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm). Hispanic individual’s

approach me on a daily basis speak to me in Spanish, seems the population is growing

rapidly. Aside from the fiscal similarities and non-similarities, there are various

cultural similarities, like a strong sense of family, near and far and religion beliefs.

Countless Hispanic families as well as Italians have numerous generations that have

their family live with them or surrounded by very close proximity. They also are

profoundly involved in helping the care/raise the children and have a stand with

family decisions. Roman Catholic is the main religion of many Hispanic and Italian

Americans. They even attend several of the same church functions, services, and

events. In Austin, TX there is a historic section of downtown that is dedicated to the

Hispanic culture. In this block of downtown, you have a dozen plus stores and

museums to explore and learn about the rich culture Austin is grasping. They even

incorporate “dia de los muertos”, “in some towns this takes on a carnival atmosphere

with sales of cotton candy and mariachi music.”

(http://gosw.about.com/od/nativeamericanculture/a/diadelosmuertos.htm, para 3).

While walking or driving along the streets of this unique/ weird city and you quietly

pause to take notice of the restaurants, liquor companies, etc., you will envision a

joining together of Hispanic, Spanish and Italian cultures that helped establish the

building blocks of Austin and South Texas. I feel there are various similarities in the

way the community and I bare a resemblance.

In my opinion, the leaders of my community treat people who are of my fiscal

features a little unfair. If you look a certain race, you are more likely to be pulled

over out of the pack. The large and continually growing Mexican culture is becoming

the majority culture and is seeing countless of unfair actions towards the Hispanic

community.

The contents of text or work manuals do not really contain information by or

directly linked about people of my culture. After reviewing a few documents there

was minuet to no mention at all of cultures. In all the information from the texts were

vastly vague in the material of pointing out cultural differences. Seems they all

contain generic texts that were written for all in an equal opportunity approach.

I feel that the people in my local media do represent people of my race in the

community as well as the other cultures in the community. My opinion is that the

local media is incredibly open-minded in the tactic as it represents members of the

community and allocates rational time to people of my race and other races and

cultures within the community. The local newspapers, local websites, segments

shown on the local television shows all incorporate a cultural piece regarding my race

and others. There is a sense of awareness and appreciation through those media

channels the community feels. I feel that the local media presents a beautiful job

representing my Hispanic race as well as others in the community. “There is no

question that Hispanics have had a significant economic, political and cultural impact

on Austin. This influence will only become more dramatic as the proportion of

Hispanics in the city continues to grow. The designation by Hispanic magazine is a

great honor for Austin and a testament to the manner in which the city has embraced

this vital segment of the community,” says Austin City Councilman Raul Alvarez.

(http://www.austintexas.org/media/press_releases/press_release?id=16, para 1).

Some similarities between me and the people who hold some leadership

positions in my community are that of the current professional, Dr. Meria Joel

Carstarphen, the Superintendent of the Austin Independent School District. She is of

Mexican American culture, and several local government and community leaders

share similar backgrounds. Living in Austin, TX, I consider minority group interests

are greatly represented in the community. Several local groups help sponsor the

expansion of these minority groups. If I recall correctly at the Presidential race with

Bush, the Hispanic community had an overwhelming support for him. As a matter of

fact the Hispanic community had a slogan “Viva Bush” and issued out bumper

stickers and signs. They were posted on every corner and car as I drove through the

city where Hispanics dominated.

If I could wave a wand and settle some inequities within my community, I

believe I would have to change the hardship situation in certain portions of the city. I

imagine the wand has been waved and change is happening. An example of the

change is the removal of projects and some section 8 buildings, as several new layouts

come in play. By creating a newer community where the projects once were an

eyesore, it now gives the community a sense of pride for the residents.

The most important concepts from the readings that associate to race are of

diversity and how numerous Americans show similar connections no matter from

where they or their beloved family members are from originally from. The text shows

that many of the people who live in America had struggles and came to America for

opportunity. And as time continues there are still struggles and kinks to work out

amongst the multiple cultures of America. Austin shows countless influences of race,

culture and tradition as it relates to the city. Human interactions in my community

have been racialized, some being positive and some negative. These interactions have

impacted relationships in my community: the neighborhood, clubs, schools, service

groups, and the environment in which I am a part of them all. Even though a leader

can negatively have an opinion of a community’s race, within interactions my

community shows encouraging influences on race and the community due to

members of the community’s opinion. In this research paper I looked at the

similarities and the differences of cultures in my community, Austin, TX. I am proud

to be apart of this diverse community. The diversity that exists in my community has

developed a sense of community and shows a history of hard work and cultural

existence. This is the sense of diversity in the community that bonds the community

together.

References

http://austintx.areaconnect.com/statistics.htm; 2010 MDNH, Inc.

http://gosw.about.com/od/nativeamericanculture/a/diadelosmuertos.htm; Nov. 19 2010, A Mexican Holiday Becomes a New Way to Remember Those Who Have Died, Elizabeth R. Rose, former About.com Guide.

http://www.austintexas.org/media/press_releases/press_release?id=16; 2009 Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau