By Eduardo Sagastume
From the perspective of an uninformed mind, a small community on Mclaughlin Ave may look like a “dangerous” and “gang infested” area. The stereotypical images of wife beaters, shorts or khakis, loafers, and all black loc glasses may come to some people’s minds. However, I’d prefer to give you a glimpse into what these communities are actually like.
It’s 4 o’clock on a Friday. The sun is high in the sky, there is a cool and satisfying breeze and in the midst of the overwhelming buildings of Downtown San Jose, a small and subtle community is vibrant and getting ready to party.
The smell of carne asada, pollo guisado, cebolla, cilantro, and pozole is in the air. In the background Spm, Lil Blue, and Oldies are playing. Kids are running around the street with their scooters, bb guns, and footballs having the time of their lives.
When I enter the community, I’m greeted with a casual, “Wassup carnal.” This special and sacred place can easily be one of the most beautiful and integrated communities that can ever be witnessed.
The eastside of San Jose is full of places just like this one. Vibrant, united, full of love, but there can be downsides to areas like this as well. There is a sense of danger, just as there is love.
These communities are fighting everyday of their lives, avoiding the rival gangs to save their families. Some people are born into these cliques and their experiences in life differ drastically when compared to someone living in the suburbs.
This type of dissociation and incoherence is evidently a new form of segregation. The communities have been separated into race.
A major contributing factor to this new form of segregation would be white flight. White flight is a practice in which a group of white people leave a certain area because of the kinds of racial groups, work that they don’t like to do, and the poverty.
Sadly, this is still an ongoing problem. According to Pcmag.com, they state that, “White Suburbanites are motivated to move when their neighborhoods become more ethnically diverse”.With this being a major factor in the new form of segregation, how would we wish for a new world that is peaceful and united.
A lot of areas in San Jose are strictly occupied by minorities and they are poorer areas that some places like Willow Glen and Seven Trees.
For example, someone living a life of opulence, a life of someone who is spoiled, and someone who is brought up with wealthy parents won’t comprehend the living conditions of minorities.
In an interview I conducted on Jesus who lives on Jeanne Ave, he told me his experiences and thoughts of San Jose and the segregation that is amongst him.
Jesus says that he sees “A lot of latinos and minorities.”
He says that there are mostly minorities, “Because we’re in the hood, it’s a poor vecindad(neighborhood) and us minorities land here automatically because of the government.”
I asked him what kind of things he and his community did for fun and he said this, “We have parties with carne asada and get sh*t faced drunk and have fun.”
He and his homies have fallen into the trap of the system. A trap that is mostly made up of minorities. If we as a society had the same opportunities and amenities as the wealthier families, we would emit from the stereotypical labels the U.S. population has placed onto us.
In the demographic of San Jose alone there are around 1.1 million citizens according to World population review. With 42.8% of those citizens being white, 33.2% being Latino of any race, 32% are Asian, 3.2% African American, and a total of 15.7% of every other race.
The Eastside of San Jose is arguably one of the most diverse areas in the entire state. From Hispanics to Native Americans, we have a plethora of culture.
As diverse as San Jose is, there is still a remanence of segregation among us. If you go the the South, West, or North side of SJ, you will see a much wealthier area. On the North side there are stores like Trader Joe’s, Grocery Outlet and many other healthy and organic food stores.
In contrast to this, the Eastside is filled with fast food and quick unhealthy places to eat. The experiences of San Jose differ on where you land.
This is all supporting this new form of segregation that this world has created.
When we think of segregation, we think of the 1940s where whites would ostracized and dehumanize african americans. Some people still treat minorities the same way today. However, the type of segregation has morphed into something so low profile that most of us don’t realize that it happens. It could be happening right in front of you and you wouldn’t know.
Something so beautiful and something I wished that happened more often is the kind of community that the fourth of July fireworks in downtown SJ brings to us all. For one moment, the universe brings everyone together as a whole and there are Asians, Latinos, African Americans, Whites, and every other race in between breaking the cycle of hatred and dehumanization that the history of our “great nation” has put out into the world.
This sense of camaraderie and unity will be the kind to leave an immense impact on our children's future, and them onto theirs. Remember to love thy brothers and sisters, not only the ones of blood, but the ones who sail in the same racial boat, for if we do not unite first, we cannot hope to unite the world.
From the perspective of an uninformed mind, a small community on Mclaughlin Ave may look like a “dangerous” and “gang infested” area. The stereotypical images of wife beaters, shorts or khakis, loafers, and all black loc glasses may come to some people’s minds. However, I’d prefer to give you a glimpse into what these communities are actually like.
It’s 4 o’clock on a Friday. The sun is high in the sky, there is a cool and satisfying breeze and in the midst of the overwhelming buildings of Downtown San Jose, a small and subtle community is vibrant and getting ready to party.
The smell of carne asada, pollo guisado, cebolla, cilantro, and pozole is in the air. In the background Spm, Lil Blue, and Oldies are playing. Kids are running around the street with their scooters, bb guns, and footballs having the time of their lives.
When I enter the community, I’m greeted with a casual, “Wassup carnal.” This special and sacred place can easily be one of the most beautiful and integrated communities that can ever be witnessed.
The eastside of San Jose is full of places just like this one. Vibrant, united, full of love, but there can be downsides to areas like this as well. There is a sense of danger, just as there is love.
These communities are fighting everyday of their lives, avoiding the rival gangs to save their families. Some people are born into these cliques and their experiences in life differ drastically when compared to someone living in the suburbs.
This type of dissociation and incoherence is evidently a new form of segregation. The communities have been separated into race.
A major contributing factor to this new form of segregation would be white flight. White flight is a practice in which a group of white people leave a certain area because of the kinds of racial groups, work that they don’t like to do, and the poverty.
Sadly, this is still an ongoing problem. According to Pcmag.com, they state that, “White Suburbanites are motivated to move when their neighborhoods become more ethnically diverse”.With this being a major factor in the new form of segregation, how would we wish for a new world that is peaceful and united.
A lot of areas in San Jose are strictly occupied by minorities and they are poorer areas that some places like Willow Glen and Seven Trees.
For example, someone living a life of opulence, a life of someone who is spoiled, and someone who is brought up with wealthy parents won’t comprehend the living conditions of minorities.
In an interview I conducted on Jesus who lives on Jeanne Ave, he told me his experiences and thoughts of San Jose and the segregation that is amongst him.
Jesus says that he sees “A lot of latinos and minorities.”
He says that there are mostly minorities, “Because we’re in the hood, it’s a poor vecindad(neighborhood) and us minorities land here automatically because of the government.”
I asked him what kind of things he and his community did for fun and he said this, “We have parties with carne asada and get sh*t faced drunk and have fun.”
He and his homies have fallen into the trap of the system. A trap that is mostly made up of minorities. If we as a society had the same opportunities and amenities as the wealthier families, we would emit from the stereotypical labels the U.S. population has placed onto us.
In the demographic of San Jose alone there are around 1.1 million citizens according to World population review. With 42.8% of those citizens being white, 33.2% being Latino of any race, 32% are Asian, 3.2% African American, and a total of 15.7% of every other race.
The Eastside of San Jose is arguably one of the most diverse areas in the entire state. From Hispanics to Native Americans, we have a plethora of culture.
As diverse as San Jose is, there is still a remanence of segregation among us. If you go the the South, West, or North side of SJ, you will see a much wealthier area. On the North side there are stores like Trader Joe’s, Grocery Outlet and many other healthy and organic food stores.
In contrast to this, the Eastside is filled with fast food and quick unhealthy places to eat. The experiences of San Jose differ on where you land.
This is all supporting this new form of segregation that this world has created.
When we think of segregation, we think of the 1940s where whites would ostracized and dehumanize african americans. Some people still treat minorities the same way today. However, the type of segregation has morphed into something so low profile that most of us don’t realize that it happens. It could be happening right in front of you and you wouldn’t know.
Something so beautiful and something I wished that happened more often is the kind of community that the fourth of July fireworks in downtown SJ brings to us all. For one moment, the universe brings everyone together as a whole and there are Asians, Latinos, African Americans, Whites, and every other race in between breaking the cycle of hatred and dehumanization that the history of our “great nation” has put out into the world.
This sense of camaraderie and unity will be the kind to leave an immense impact on our children's future, and them onto theirs. Remember to love thy brothers and sisters, not only the ones of blood, but the ones who sail in the same racial boat, for if we do not unite first, we cannot hope to unite the world.