INFLUENCES OF RACE ON COMMUNITY

Influences Of Race On Community



Influences Of Race On Community

We as humans cannot remain static; rather, we must keep on moving throughout our lives. That is, we will not be stationed in one place, one particular time, one single relationship, or one single community. We will move from one stage to another exposing ourselves to different situations, avenues and most importantly people. These situations, avenues and people will take us to uncharted territories and it is up to each individual to go with the flow or to go against it. I, Barbara Perez-Lugo, am one individual who decided to go with the flow and experience every stage of life to the fullest. I truly love to learn about different cultures and people. I have had the pleasure to break bread with many people of different cultures and backgrounds. Our friendships have been a rewarding asset to my life. At this stage of my life's journey, I have the opportunity to pause, reflect, and pen a short autobiography of my experiences in race and cultural understanding. This autobiography is an account of my personal experiences with cultural diversity and how it influenced my relationship with my community.

About myself, I am a Caucasian woman in what I like to call the prime of my life. Though I am a Native of America, born and raised in Northern America, my ancestors were immigrants from Germany, Hungary and Ireland. I came up in the Hillbilly culture of Gun toting Rednecks, with pickup trucks and shotguns. We even had outhouses and carried our water from a spring, just up the hill from our house. A great majority of my family is still hillbilly and culturally handicapped (for lack of a better word) when it comes to life and other cultures outside of hillbilly holler.

Despite my hillbilly roots, I dared to be different. I am an American woman who loves and embraces the diverse cultures and varied races of the people around me. Instead of judging people who are different from me, I enjoy learning about their different cultures and accept them just as they are. I met my husband through my interactions with different cultures.

My husband, Jaime, is a kind and gentle man from El Salvador. He is a loving husband and a faithful role model for my son, Robert. Robert lovingly calls him Papi, which is Spanish for Daddy. No one would ever suspect that he is not Robert's biological father and it is not a point for debate for either of them because he has been part of our lives since Robert was three. The fact that Robert is a mixed child and shares characteristics from both races may factor into how society sees us as a normal family. In fact, the social structure in our home does not revolve around a specific race or culture. Our personal relationships are based on mutual love and respect; a love and respect that I believe, surpasses society's racial and cultural ...