Last week we read two stories. The
theme of barriers came up in both stories, but about two completely different
cultural groups. One was about African Americans and the other was featuring Latinos.
In “The Construction of the Ghetto” by W.E.B Du Bois, a story is told about
African Americans in the twentieth century. Southern African Americans were
pushed into confined places, which became a problem when more African Americans
migrated to the area. Whites wanted more space because landowners could
regulate it on their own. They went through extreme segregation and lived in extreme
poverty. In “Barrio Logos” by Raul Homero Villa, the Chicano community is
discussed at the setting of the 1840s, which was the height of their annexation
from the United States.
During class, we participated in an
activity. A few students entered a confined space and were told to move in
specific shapes or patterns. Later, more students were gradually added in. The
more students that joined created more difficulty. This is a mere glimpse of
what the African Americans had to live.
Barriers can be both physical and
metaphorical. Physically, barriers create a confined space where the simplest
task is made almost impossible. Just as in the activity, movement and missions
were difficult to accomplish. The thought of living in a small space with many
people is disturbing. I was in a confined area for no more than 15 minutes and
I felt claustrophobic. The forceful nature of being put in these barriers would
be indescribable. As a metaphor, a barrier can be seen as anything in the way
of someone’s goal. The activity got me thinking about my own personal barriers.
I am studying as a Nutrition and Dietetics major in my sophomore year. I have
many barriers in my way of becoming a Registered Dietitian. I need to keep up
my GPA, which is conflicted with my difficult course load. My work schedule is
also a barrier to keeping up with studying and juggling a social life. I have
other personal barriers as well. These include regrets of things in the past
that possibly hold me back today. This lesson was more than just learning about
a terrible time in history by restricting human rights, but it allowed a lot of
reflections for myself.
After reading this post, I hope you
think about your own personal barriers. Write them down and try to overcome
them everyday.
Further Reading:
This is not a past issue. This
ill-treatment still happens today. Here is an article about physical barriers
and the mistreatment of impoverished people living in Hong Kong.
From Artin.
ReplyDeleteIn any given time of human history and specially United States and California barriers existed. Conflict centralizes in one or more minority population that is confined in these barriers also will increase. What happened with Chicano community during1840s, is also happening now, with more of a moderate viewpoints. Most of Chicano population is driven out of the best neighborhoods and are located in areas prone with natural disasters; San Fernando Valley is on fault line of the major earthquakes, flood, and landslides. East Los Angles is polluted with toxic waste materials that are in the soil of old factories lots and air pollution that is created from greater los angles area. Places like this that are burden for rich and white population are left for low price living costs and prices which is in the favor of low income immigrant populations.
It is the minorities’ job to try to break this kind of barriers and create a living condition that is equal to the ones of more refine and healthy living areas. If minorities try to invest in their communities they will be able to break through this problems.
I agree Artin! The vast majorities of the chicano/a community live in areas that are polluted and toxic. They cannot afford to move out because of other barriers that consist of legal documentations. Without legal documentation they cannot get higher paid jobs, resulting in not being able to move out of the lower income communities. I believe that they do not strive for more because they do not have the means to do so. They also get comfortable with people within their race. They do not want to leave and venture into a place where everything is different.
ReplyDeleteI feel like in my experience I have put up with more physical barriers than with metaphorical barriers. I grew up in a community where mostly Asian went to school with me. Most of my close friends are Asian, not until high school did I notice how many Latinos were part of my community. I do have some knowledge that African Americans and Latinos most live in "ghetto" communities. At most I've seen are "wannbe" gangsters but have no affiliation to any kind of gang. However, if you go 3 miles east or west you find yourself in El Monte or East La. My mom, I can say, raised me to be scared of people that looked different. Whenever I pass by a shady neighborhood, I have to look my car doors. Its just the way I am. Sometimes I try to come out of that judgmental way of thinking but I have it drilled into my head that someone will harm me by just the way they look, thank you MOM. Hopefully, as I grow as a person, it will change because thinking bad of people isn't the best way to live.
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