Running head: RACE AND YOUR COMMUNITY

Race and Your Community Dorothy Decker ETH/125 April 9, 2011 Trina Hines

RACE AND YOUR COMMUNITY

Abstract The racial issues can vary from community to community; Ludington where, we have our cottage at. There are very few issues; it is basically a vacation town with sandy beaches and beautiful sunsets. The issues that we hold are between groups of people that are of the same race, just differences in economic standings.

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Try to imagine moving to a town where you could have a great life filled with a beautiful view and a small town fell, just to find out that people look at you differently when you walk by, you would feel out of place. Then you find there are very few people like you. You are the only family who is Black, or Asian. So what makes this community different than others? Is it because in this small community just about everyone is white; we live in a community where everyone is the same, we all look just about the same and we all sound the same when we speak, the only differences are some have better jobs, some drive better cars, and some have better homes. This town consists of almost only one race White of some sort, meaning they all has a different ethnic background (German (27.7%), Irish (13.3%), English (11.3%), Polish (10.0%), Swedish (7.2%), and French (5.2%) it has more whites than any other race. White alone - 7,731 (92.5%) This community does not have the different racial groups like in the big cities down state do, but different status groups of people. Most places you go you will see whites where ever you go in town, at restaurants, in church, at the post office, or the schools anywhere you go it is basically white in the population. This town different then other towns because here instead of race being the issue it is class and the if you dont make a lot of money then you are looked down on or classified as a second rate citizen. Though I am not one to keep up with the Jones, this is one thing I dont like about the culture of this small town. But we are only here on the weekends or a week at a time for vacation. We wanted to get our cottage here because we liked the area, property and the quiet of the land that we have our cottage on; the only local government positions to be held are by whites, no other ethnic group. This is where the issues come into play.

RACE AND YOUR COMMUNITY

We have three groups of people the entire same race in this community. There is a subordinate group, or the group who has the power and say, this is the group that doesnt like the way things are, but would do nothing to change it, minority group or the get along group, they just want everyone to get along, and this is the group in the middle. These are also the folks who see things but say nothing. If you are in the subordinate group, you are from a family who has a long life history in the community. Their families have all held some position in the community either as school board members, police officer, a town council member or even Mayor. These are the people who always hold local government positions. This lets my husband and me out as we are part time residents. Even though my in-laws have lived here their whole life and they are old residents we by no means would look to hold a local political position as we are not considered in this group. The minority groups, or the ones that want to make changes because they have more education and better training and fresh, new ideas and want change more than the older subordinate group, so to belong to this group of people you need to be out spoken and want to make changes in our town. These folks get looked down on or frowned upon because they are so outspoken. The subordinate dont like folks who make waves. Then the assimilation group or Sweden as I like to call them, they consist of both groups. They are members from each group; they all want the same things, want changes and treat each other with respect. There are community leaders and non-community leaders in this group. This is the group I tend to think we fit into best. While we are not full time residents, we do pay taxes and have land here, so for me what happens in this small community still effect my husband and I.

RACE AND YOUR COMMUNITY

The leaders and members of this community treat each group differently; even though we all look the same, we all get treated differently. If you are not in the subordinate group then you are treated differently. I have found that the longer I come here, I learn more about the makeup of this small Northern town, and its all about who has the money and who doesnt. And who has lived here longer than the other or whose family has done the most in the community. Its the way it has been forever, and I think if change could happen the community would see that everyone in town deserve to be treated equally. The leaders treat each other with respect, but treat the other residents or the minority with prejudice. They dont feel that their issues are important and dont affect the local government or other towns people. The minority groups will never hold any position in this town. So it is not just for the few minorities races that may have problems with this town; it is the lesser white race that suffers from discrimination against them. Its truly a white on white discrimination factor here, and I have found that there are other small towns with the same issue in upper Lower Michigan. Our leaders in this community are here to represent all people of the community as a whole. They are to represent all people not just ones who have a history in their community. Some do not want change and others do. But this is common in every community; there are always people who dont accept change very well. They want things the way they have always been. They that the idea of dont fix it if it isnt broke. What these folks dont understand is things are broke but they go on with blinders on because it doesnt affect them directly. Even the minority group says they want to improve the town but they still have conflict with each other. How can a community grow if all they see is the conflict between each other? Both groups say they listen to what

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you have to say, but my father-in-law has been a business owner in the community most of my husbands life and his grandparents before him, he has seen the division between the groups first hand, they lay blame on each other, never settling the conflict between them. My in-laws are not driven to hold a local government office; they do see problems in the county seat and would like to see change. They attend local meetings and give ideas on change, only to get shot down or dismissed as silly ideas. How can a town be run by people if they cannot correct issues among themselves? We could be a growing community, but instead they do things like tell Wal-Mart if they want to build a store they can only do it with certain provisions, such as it can only be so big and only within so many miles of the town. With things like this happening and the leaders worried more about the tourists and their needs, then how is progress for the citizens to be made? The only similarities that I have in common with the leaders of this community is that we are the same color, and the difference being that I would like to see my community grow both economically and more fairness to all. I do not believe that all leaders are like this, but my experience has been that most of them are aiming more toward the tourists rather than bringing real jobs to the community. If the people of the community cant make it than the thought of tourists is out of the question. If a town fails due to jobs, or a lack of, why would anyone want to come there for vacation? Getting rid of the racism and discrimination between people would show our community how to grow. Having this community grow, would bring business and job opportunities. Having the leaders work for the people, and not the other way around.

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Conclusion It takes all sides to make a community work. But if a community cannot settle issues, then how can it grow? All of the communitys people need to respect each other and understand the different economic values that come with a community so that they can grow together and not apart.

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References http://www.city-data.com/city/Ludington-Michigan.html#ixzz1Bsdn21QN My own interviews and observations Stories from family who have lived here their entire life.

RACE AND YOUR COMMUNITY