Diversity In High School

My parents are from the same race, African-American. My Dad grew up on the Eastside of Detroit and my Mom grew up on the Westside of Detroit. Everyone on my Dad’s side of the family is Black, however, on my Mom’s side, her mom is Black and her Dad is White. She’s the oldest of three and her younger siblings are White, giving me three White cousins. I identify myself as African American, with no ties to any ethnic groups. Growing up on the East Side, my neighborhood consisted of all black families. My first encounter with another race wasn’t until Kindergarten; I didn’t think of it as another race as a child, I thought of it as another child to play with. I played soccer as a young girl for a team in Rosedale, that was Black, White, and

Being on the cheer team freshman year helped me with the transition from East Middle School to Canton High School. Personally, I thought middle school and high school was the same in terms of diversity because the same races were there, along with ethnic groups. I interact with all races, but I interact with Blacks more than Whites, Asians, and Indians; I try not to limit myself with one race, it’s just who people are more comfortable with. Majority of Plymouth-Canton Community Schools consist of White teachers, a few Black teachers, and a few Asians and/or Indians teachers. Freshmen year, I had one Black teacher and six White teachers; Sophomore and Junior year, I had all White teachers; Senior year, I have one Black teacher and six White teachers. My Principal, Dean of Students, and Athletic Director are Black; I think PCCS needs to be more diverse when it comes to their teaching staff. In my neighborhood, there’s a little bit of everything, in terms of race and ethnic groups; my neighbors are Hispanic, White, Indian, and Black. We tend to get to ourselves and I think that’s because of who we are and where we’re

I wish my friends were 50/50 Black and White, it’s just so happens that majority of my friends are Black. I like people from other races because it opens my mind and eyes to a different perspective other than my own; I think that’s something that’s really important as a human being because in the real world, people are going to work with different races and/or ethnic groups, people are going to be neighbors to different races and/or ethnic groups, and most important, people are going to interact with different races and/or ethnic groups on a day-to-day basis. Ten years from now, I plan to have a career in law enforcement and right now, in the present, the relationship between White officers and the Black Community is pretty rocky. I plan on making that relationship solid and hope there’s more Black officers then than there is today; I hope there’s more officers from other races and/or ethnic groups then than there is today. I have an Uncle who went from campus security at Wayne State to Homeland Security; I have another Uncle who is a Sheriff. I know it wasn’t easy for them, as a Black male, trying to pursue a career that’s predominately made up of White people, but they did it. Also in ten years, I plan to raise a family somewhere down South, maybe Tennessee or Georgia. I can also picture that the social class will be Blacks more than Whites or 50/50 Black and White. Depending where at in Tennessee