As we go through the hall ways in school, we see so many groups standing around chatting. Even if you don't pay close attention, it is quite noticeable that these groups are usually united under one binding factor---ethnicity.
To find out what is separating the crowd, I interviewed one 'black' and one 'white' friend, who are both very close to me (I'm Asian). I asked them why they don't "hang out" with students of different color. Their answer was simple. Both said, " we don't feel comfortable around them." I asked, "But we talk on one on one bases..." They cut the discussion short by saying, "Its different when you are with a 'group.' "
I, also, do feel comfortable talking with friends of same ethnicity. But when I talk to many of my friends who are not Asian, I feel engaged and fun, sometimes even more comfortable than talking with my Asian friends.
Is it the culture? Is it the preconceptions, or what is it? It is quite hard to understand that we unite under the fact that we are all Americans, but do not welcomely acknowledge the fact that we are all different. If anyone has any idea how to desegregate the segregated halls, please let me know. Our school, maybe your school too, definately needs a change.
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I go to a very small school, we are K-12. Its a southern country town, and maybe we are just all close. We have all grown up around each other. My class will be the largest ever to graduate from our school, at 60 kids. Within the classroom, we all talk to each other, hang out with each other at lunch, and stop to chat at the lockers. One thing that I do find interesting is that the guys are even more integrated than the girls. Many times this ends outside of school, but the more that time goes on, even outside of school, the group of kids down at the lake or going to the movies come more and more diverse.
If you are asking these questions of yourself, it's a good time for you to read "Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?" By Beverly Tatum (I think the first name is right...but I know for sure the last name is Tatum). She talks about teenage identity development, and how kids start looking for groups with which they identify around age 12 or 13 and they don't branch out again until college. In a school setting, where most of the teachers and staff are white, it becomes clear to students of color that they are on a different "team." This is not really an accurate perception, but an obvious assumption to make in the mind of a child.
I'm not explaining it as well as Tatum does, though; you should read the book.
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/ediblewoman