To white people of North America - have you ever lived in a community where YOU were the minority?

Question

You alone among many of a different "race" and religion? Did it open your eyes? Did you see things from a different perpective? Wasn't it a positive experience in the end? (Please I do not want to hear from Christian Missionaries who only go to these communities to convert the "heathens" and therefore miss the point of living)

Personally I found it to be very rewarding and eye opening - until I lived with people different than me I had only old Hollywood stereotypes in my mind.

BTW I am Canadian so that is why I asked all North Americans - there really are vastly differing levels of acceptance of the differences between humans as evidneced here but I want to thank everyone for answering as honestly as you have!

Oh and how does this question rate a thumbs down? Sheesh

Answer 1

I am currently a white male who lives in Union City, NJ, which is 82% Hispanic. I've grown up in this environment my entire life and never thought anything of diversity because I lived in it, until I went to a primarily white University where, sitting in the dining hall, I looked around and said "Whoa, there are alot of white people here." I think living in an ethnically diverse environment is beneficial because it allows you to see different value structures and points of view, which help make any openminded person more weell rounded and tolerant

Answer 2

I was a minority in California when I was stationed there in the Military -- and on most of my duty assignments as well. I've had good and bad experiences in the end -- and it does not matter what ethnicity people are from -- there are good folk and bad folk from all backgrounds. Unfortunately, that is the case across the board. Did it open my eyes -- no, because I was already alone by my very early adulthood (I buried my parents), put myself through college, entered the military, put myself through grad school, and worked with many different people of many backgrounds.

Do I have friends of many ethnicities? Yes, I do -- and I have kept in touch with many of them throughout the years of military service and beyond into retirement. I cherish these friendships for they are folks that do cherish me as well, and would not victimize me personally, and go out of their way to be there to talk to me at times too. It is definitely a good feeling when holidays roll around and the cards start being exchanged -- and to know one has had a positive influence on another human being.

So yes, I did have some negative experiences, whether it was targeting the uniform (which is what happens when you wear a military uniform -- it is not personal, just that there are those out there who respond with prejudice and fear) or just a personal targeting (like my ex -- who recently burglarized my residence). For me, I am not scared of most things, but when the ex continues to harass me personally and burglarize my residence almost a decade and a half after divorce, that is scary. That is where the negative experiences come in -- when the bad folk target personally to make one as miserable as possible.

Answer 3

When I was little (5 yrs old) my family moved to Los Angeles...the city, not the suburbs. We lived in a brick apartment building about a block from the L.A. Coliseum. Then we moved to a little house right off a railroad track near Watts. We lived there during the time of the Watts Riots (and we were one of only two white families in the area). At first, my older sisters got picked on at school because they didn't fit in, but after some time things mellowed out. I was little enough that I didn't realize people were "different" and the other little kids and I got along just fine. We never really thought about color all that much growing up.

When we moved to another area that was predominantly white, my best friend was a black girl that moved in across the street from us. We were like one big family...hers was 6 people, and mine was 5 people and we would all hang out together every holiday and most weekends too. It's not about the color of people...it's about the attitude of people. If you are friendly and trustworthy, it doesn't matter what color your skin is. Conversely, just because my skin matches someone else's doesn't mean they are someone worth being friends with. That's what I learned.

Answer 4

I am a white female, from the New Orleans area. I moved to El Paso, TX (border of TX and Mexico) about 4 years ago. If I wanted I could drive to Mexico and be in Juarez in under 20 minutes. I am a minority here. It's funny cause there are even commercials from law firms that say if you are a minority and need representation, then it lists the minorities for the area and Caucasion is the first on the list. Even for home loan commercials, it says the same thing. I was like wow I am a minority. Being considered a minority did not make me go out and take advantage of offered. The religions around here are basically the same where I am from, so no big difference there. But there are differences in how people treat others here. Now, I have never treated anyone differently, I grew up in a multi cultural neighborhood. Here I am expected to know Spanish. I work in retail, so I am constantly being asked for help in Spanish. I do not speak Spanish, not a lick of it. Because I don't I am looked down upon by a lot of people. I understand most of what people are asking for, but for me to answer them or hold a conversation, I can not do. Now I have a lot of friends here that are Mexican and don't speak a lick of Spanish, they are looked further down upon than I am. It is a disgrace to other Mexicans that someone who is of Mexican decent don't speak Spanish. Basically what my friends tell me is this..."I am in America, I speak English." And they actually tell the customers this, too. They go on to tell them that they don't go over to Mexico and demand they know English. Living around this culture, which is way different from my own, has it's benefits. I am learning more and more Spanish, I have learned how to cook things I never knew how to cook, although I still try as best as condements allow me, to cook like I am in New Orleans. I have learned, which I knew a little about it before but it is more profound here, that this culture is very family oriented, and very compasionate. Hugs for everything. How ya doing *Hug*, See ya later *Hug*, I'm going on break *Hug*, Thank you *Hug*, you get the picture. I am not a touchy feely kind of person, so that makes me a bit uncomfortable, but I am slowly coming around to that concept. Sometimes I have to step out of my box and look at things as if I were born and raised here to see where people are coming from.
Other than that, things here are like they are in other parts of the country. You have your gangs, your hardcore Catholics and Christians, Jehovahs Witnesses, Baptists, Muslims, etc. Just a plethora of people each with his or her own way of doing things. Lastly, I love it here. I wouldn't move because I am considered a minority, I just blend in and become part of this multicultural world that we live in.

Answer 5

Although I'm considered "white", where ever I live I am considered the minority because I'm Native American. However, I'm used to it. What is really funny is how many "looks" my husband and I get when we go to states like Virginia or Georgia. He's English and German - and some folks out there don't approve of mixed couples. I did see my husband flip a little when we lived in D.C. and went to South East. I thought it was pretty funny, but he didn't think so.

Answer 6

I grew up living in an area of mostly hispanics. I didn't and still don't see them as anything other than people just like me. I think it taught me as a child to be more open to different ways of life and cultures. I think it also led to my interests in sociology. Mainly because I'd like to learn more about the different cultures and their history. I was also raised with relatives who were very religious although my immediate family was not. I feel that also helped me keep an open perspective because even though these people did things differently and valued other things than I did, they were still people that I loved. So yes I feel it was something that helped me to be a better person and was a very positve experience for me.

Answer 7

Strictly speaking, my high school was predominantly Latino so I was in the minority. But it never really seemed that way. I'd call it a neutral experience, except that the few years of my life that I lived in a predominantly white (as in of Western European descent) community I missed the diversity of the bigger cities I've lived in. Differences make people interesting.

Answer 8

Absolutely. I lived in Little Saigon in southern California for like a year and a half. Everywhere I'd go, Vietnamese people would stare at me. I was totally the minority. When I'd go into a restaurant, (especially one that served Vietnamese food) I got all the attention, whether I wanted it or not. It made me realize how difficult it can be for minorities to feel accepted. Whether or not people mean to, they stare and treat you a little differently because you are the minority.

Answer 9

I gave you your third thumbs up. I think its a very good question! Perhaps, people just don't like to think outside the box.

Anyway - yes.

My husband is from India (a Hindu) and since meeting him I've been tons of places where I (white Americian Christian) was a minority. The most memorable was when we went to Chicago to visit friends of his. One night after dinner we just sat around talking.

The conversation turned to white americans quickly (given the iraq situation). Suddenly I realized I was the only American there. I was the only white girl. I was the only Christian! Out of the four of us all where different religions (Christian, Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist). And, saw the stereotypes toward my race.

I had to field questions left and right and defend myself, my race, and my nationality. WOW. Totally gave me a new perspective. And, I wonder how people who are *different* mold themselves to a society where they aren't the majority. Gave me a new respect!

Answer 10

Cambodia, actually. I am a Christian, but we went to help them with drinking water.
It was such a great experience and it did open my eyes a lot. It made me look at minorities in a different way. i have so much more compassion on those that are not in the majority by race or religion.