neighborhood living as the minority

Attending the diversity event was an eye opener for me and because we had to choose one side or the other it made the event all the more interesting. The topics brought up were based on issues that society deals with everyday but avoids taking about because of its controversy. The one question that comes to mind when I think about the event was about one’s comfort level when living in a neighborhood with people of their same race vs. living in a neighborhood and being the minority. Most people said race wouldn’t affect them but a few lingered the other way. With the progress in society on racial issues, people shouldn’t feel uncomfortable around other races to the point where it would determine their living arrangements; however I do understand the other perspective. When white kids hang out with white kids, and black kids hang out with black kids, it doesn’t mean they’re necessarily racist, it just means they are more comfortable around each other, being the same race, possibly having the same values, and sharing the same traditions. A Hispanic community would celebrate customs and holidays that they share, but if a family of another race were to live in this community they may feel left out or uneducated about the Hispanic customs. Depending on the family, this may or may not play a role when a family is deciding on where to live. Growing up in Chicago with this perspective, it was easy to enjoy and understand places like China town, the polish community, or Devon( dominantly Indian community).