In history there are numerous examples of settlers
moving into an area a group of humans already inhabited. The new group often
has an effect on the original group’s environment, ways of life, and
perceptive, although they are often resistant to the change of their culture. This
idea of arrivals and change is a constant theme in life; it can be applied to
many famous stories, or daily life. We all know how explorers come to the New
World, and found Native Americans living here in harmony with nature in an old fashioned
manner, if not more primitive and savage like. The explorers changed their way
of life, and founded what we now called The United States of America.
While that particular example had a big historical
affect, there are more common local examples to examine. America is a good
example of this constant change, since its population is made up of immigrants
from all over the world. There are times in history when one culture was more
popular than another. This merger of cultures has helped the United States be the
place it is today.
My community is also known as one of the most diverse
in Chicago, since Chicago is very segregated. While we are very diverse, there
has been more of an African American population moving in. My community was
never exactly safe all the time, but there is more resistance to carelessly be
on the streets late at night due to the growing teenagers hanging out, not
guarding, but being the ones one must guard themselves against. It’s not because
of their heritage that many feel this way, since many young Hispanic boys join
them, but because of the way they present themselves; they wear saggy pants,
often exposing their underwear, snapbacks, sometimes
they wear shirts, and they always occupy the entire sidewalk hanging out, without
a motive, or on their bikes, making it awkward to pass by them, stepping on
lawns, or pass through them. This is changing my community by the way many perceive
it, and how safe they feel on the streets, at any time of the day.
-Little Miss Writer
Ashley, I really liked your piece! I love how easily you compared the modern world's changing neighborhoods to what happened with the Indians with the Europeans. I really like your word choice, it was very interesting to read and I really liked your descriptions about the boys in the streets. I feel the same it so awkward and sometimes scary to pass by them!
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