Race and My Community
Michelle A. Freeman
Axia College of University of Phoenix
Race and My Community
My community is based in Loudoun County, Virginia. I have lived in this county for a combined total of 18 years. Located in Northern Virginia, my community is considered part of the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Area, along with the state of Maryland. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006, of the 7,642,884 Virginians, 268,817 were living in Loudoun County (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008).
Loudoun County is rich in history and is known for its beautiful farmland, stunning horse farms and abundant mountain scenery. Yet the face of Loudoun has changed over the past decade. The Department of Economic Development lists Loudoun County as the second fastest growing county in the United States for the years 2005 through 2007 (Loudoun County Department of Economic Development, 2008).
Along with growth, changes have also been seen in Loudoun County’s cultural make-up. While Loudoun County’s ethnic transition may not be as smooth due to illegal immigration issues, Loudoun County has become very diverse.
I live in Sterling, Virginia in a little community alongside the Potomac River known as Countryside. As a part of Loudoun County, Sterling residents, including Countryside, have become diverse in the past years. I am a White American of German, English and American Indian heritage, so the majority of the members of my community look like me. However, as listed by the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2006 the face of Loudoun looked like the following: White, 77%; Black, 7.8%; American Indian, 0.3%; 12.7%, Asian; 0.1%, Native Hawaiian and Pacific islander; 9.7%, Hispanic or Latino (U.S. Census Bureau, 2008).
My neighborhood is diverse. Yes, there are those around me who look like me with fair skin and light colored eyes, but my neighbors also have black curly hair and brown skin. My neighbors were Saris and turbans. I will watch the children playing...