Matt Graham
email: blueandbold05@hotmail.com
Hi, my name is Joseph Matthew de llano Graham. I am a 19 year old Cuban American male. I am currently living in Miami Florida. I went to high school at Hialeah high. My high school and surrounding areas were predominantly African American and Hispanic. Miami is filled with Cubans and afro-Americans. So I have seen what the community can do when it works together.
I think that is very important that the minorities in the U.S. work together. In the recent years minorities have grown substantially in the U.S. this article tells just of the growth of Maryland and it has shocking results.
“Recently released U.S. Census Bureau estimates indicate that 57.7 percent of Maryland’s total population gain over the 39-month period was made up of minorities”
That’s a large number. These kinds of numbers have great affect on the outcome of the government, culture, and community. The people of any area have the power to help or hurt the community. I believe that is why African – Americans and Hispanics should do all they can to work together to build the community into something great. They should stand together to address issues that will effect not only the community, but the families and even the individuals of any area.
I feel that there is some connection between the Afro-Americans and the Hispanics, but it can be stronger. I think a great place to start is in the schools. Most of the friends that we make in life come from school. And schools in America are where the minorities always come together at a single location and are easy to reach. I think that school system can help strengthen the afro- American/ Hispanic relations in a few simple ways. One is classroom dynamics. The schools should try to make a balance of the minority students and the Caucasian American students this will allow more interaction between the students and eventually the families, and the community as a whole. Another way is using a common language. Many students only know one language. But studies show that a second language is needed more than ever before. This article speaks a little about that.
“In recent years there has been greater emphasis placed on second language acquisition in schools. To be prepared for life in the 21st century, to function within an increasingly interdependent world society, to be free from the petty biases that hinder understanding and from the larger hatreds that lead to confrontation, children will need to acquire the basic tools of communication--including a working knowledge of other people's languages.”
I think that putting an emphasis on learning a second language together will bring great results in strengthening Afro-American and Hispanic relations.
I feel another way is to host more outdoor community activities. Such as cancer walks community clean up days, free classes for students or adults such as bicycle safety or drivers education. These types of events bring many minority groups together and give them a chance to help build the community and the family relations. These are just some of many ways that the Afro-American and Hispanic relations can grow.
I think that it is very important for any generation to receive some kind of higher education. It helps the persons, families, communities and even the country as a whole. When the percentage of graduates rises also does the economy. And there are many other great results. I feel that “Historically Black College & Universities” (HBCU) is doing a wonderful thing by helping the minority groups of the United States receive an education. One historically black college took a great role in doing so and had tremendous results. It was Fisk University. Here is what one article said about its efforts.
“Fisk's six-year graduation rate is more than 10 percentage points above the national average for four-year institutions. Seventy percent of Fisk alumni go on to graduate or to professional schools. No other institution produces as many black doctorates in the natural sciences. At Fisk, low-income and first-generation students receive special support services, financed through the Department of Education's TRIO program for disadvantaged students. Advisers in the Leadership, Development, and Academic Enrichment program monitor the academic progress of the 200 participating students, identify scholarship and internship opportunities, and maintain a lending library for students unable to afford textbooks. Other programs focus on certain at-risk groups. One provides extra academic advising for students on endowed scholarships.”
We can see by their example what financial aid can do for students. I think that HBCU can continue to provide scholarships like this one and others. I also think that financial aid education is a great way to support those who need help. Many times there are students who need financial aid but just don’t know where to look. I think HBCU would be a great help if they offered some kind of financial aid seminar. It would open many students’ eyes to the resources they need to pay for their education. There are many ways in which HBCU can continue supporting the growing number of afro-American and Hispanics in the United States. What ever way possible is a great help to “us” as students and to the community.
These are some of my thoughts on the subjects at hand. I am very grateful for the opportunity to even apply for the scholarship and hope that HBCU can continue helping many students like myself receive and education. I feel that if the country would really take some of the steps listed here we would see amazing results. And the lives of many would be changed for the better.
Thank you
Matt
works cited 1 http://www.mdp.state.md.us/msdc/pop_estimate/estimate_00to03/highlights_2003.pdf2http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=ERICSearchResult&newSearch=true&ERICExtSearch_Descriptor=%22Cultural+Pluralism%223http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/Home.portal?_nfpb=true&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=EJ084210&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=eric_accno&_pageLabel=RecordDetails&accno=EJ757201&_nfls=false&objectId=0900000b809c58da
