Response to “People Like Us” Essay

In the essay plurality Like Us, stand states that maybe we are indeed a diverse nation when considered as a whole, but when you look at us on the community level, we are homogenous. stand describes many an other(prenominal) shipway in which the Statesns separate themselves from one(a) a nonher. Overall, I agree with the points make by Brooks and burn draw many similarities to my own life. For example, when Brooks describes how our towns or cities can become racially homogenized.People Like Us begins by Brooks giving some examples of how flock isolate themselves. Many lot think of race when they think of diversity, but that is not the only flavour described by Brooks. He takes a look at racial, geographical, backg expand, and become step forward diversity. People are very capable of finding the plain smallest differences between themselves. They pass on level make some of their biggest life choices ground off of these differences. By drawing these subtle distinctions w e continue to surround ourselves with people more and more standardized us, causing legitimate areas to have sure characteristics.Brooks goes on to state that our cities and neighborhoods are becoming more and more worry themselves. He says that when a place becomes grouped with a veritable trait or attribute it gets multiplied and becomes more and more true. Brooks goes on to say that this isnt some tragedy that we are move to avoid. In fact, he goes as far as to say that we spot this segmentation, and that it actually makes us happier. We feel more comfortable when we are surround by people who we consider to be like ourselves.Brooks and so says that even though we regainm to strive for racial integration we are, in some cases, becoming more segregated. Reformers have been at work for years to end housing discrimination, but trends are showing that, even though people of different races can stand firm amongst one an opposite, they are choosing not to. People sepa rate themselves by race. By doing this, they begin to give certain places a re bewilderation for being home to a specific race. As these report cards start to develop they become facts reinforced by people choosing to live with people like themselves.Next, Brooks supports his idea by describing the ways in which we can be divided into demographics based off of where we live geographically. thither are many companies that direct potential business owners to the best place for them to market their product based off the tendencies of those who live in that respect. He explains that it sincerely is quite amazing how easily we can be split into these groups. formerly again, our tendencies to associate ourselves with those who are similar to us are made apparent.Brooks moves on to explain that not only do we separate ourselves by minute differences, race, and geography, but also by our own backgrounds. People will group themselves based off of their education level or class, for examp le. If someone has had a similar past to you, you will be more apparent to want to be around them. People are drawn to one another based off past experiences.Perhaps the places in America that speak the most of diversity are actually some of the least(prenominal) diverse, Brooks explains. He is talking somewhat our countrys elect(ip) universities. It seems they go on and on about striving for diversity, and claim they promptly accept it. Brooks illustrates that this is not the case, especially for the educators. Our universities faculty members seem to be almost exclusively liberal.Brooks displays concerns for how we seem to isolate ourselves with those who are like us. He points out that when we so deeply immerse ourselves in communities that theorise ourselves, we fail to see the other sides. We do not get the other points of view. Our own ideas and beliefs are only reinforced.I agree with many of the points made by Brooks in his essay. I can personally uphold to his state ment that we tend to congregate with people of our own race quite than branching out. I grew up in the small community of Independence, Iowa. We had a population of roughly five-thousand people. Almost all of that population was accounted for in the numerous white families. When I was growing up it was very rare to see someone in town who wasnt white. I never unfeignedly had much exposure to people who didnt look like myself. In fact, the only minority in my class was a Mexican boy whose parents were immigrants. Even though my town had an obvious lack of racial diversity, the judgement of why had never crossed my mind.When I was in fifth pose a black family moved into town with a boy that was put into my class. He did all of the same activities as me and even lived in my neighborhood. We pronto became fellows. Over the years, I got a front row seat to many instances of people who were not tolerant or understanding of other races. My friend would often get singled out at school day by other kids because his skin color was different than ours. Sometimes, people would even shout racial slurs at him when we were walking down the street. These events got me to think about why we were a predominately white community. It wasnt just some coincidence. It was that way for a reason. or so of the members of my community chose to live thither because we were mostly white. People of different races panic-stricken them or made them uncomfortable. Being with people who were like them gave them a brain of belonging and comfort. He and his family being there ruined their security blanket.They brought in experiences, ideas, and lifestyles that were different from their own. Waterloo, Iowa is a city that was roughly twenty minutes onward from me. In my area it was known as the black town. in that respect is a large black community there and it held a reputation for exactly that. When I was a sophomore in high school my friend and his family moved there. They said it was because of more job opportunities, but later reading Brooks essay I wonder if the ideas described by him somehow applied. I now think that that maybe they moved there because Waterloo held a reputation for being home to people more like them. This is exactly what Brooks meant when he explained that places reputations for being home to a certain race only get intensified.I believe that Brooks points about our tendencies to group ourselves with similar people are valid. When I look round at my own life I can see examples of what he was talking about. Brooks ideas do a good job at explaining why many aspects of our lives are the way they are. He states that we should ask ourselves if we even care that we have this sort of sheltered life. Brooks says that maybe there is nothing we can do about our tendencies for homogeneity, but perhaps we can try to lead diverse lives. In conclusion, I think we be intimate living in our own little homogenized groups, and because of that w e will never become a truly integrated and diverse country.