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In this progression, we worked with Paul Fleischman's short children's novel, "Seedfolks" where neighbors were brought together through a community garden. Before writing our essays, we were split into groups where we had to create a word picture and scene. The word picture exercise included a photograph that described the idea or argument that we wanted to argue as well as a creative description like a poem. We kept the same argument through our scene exercise where we had to create a scene that relayed our argument, so the class could experience what our main idea is. For the last exercise, we had to individually do an ethnography, which is a study of an environment, and relate our analysis to "Seedfolks" and our previous readings. Through these exercises, I was able to write this essay, that I have revised for this portfolio.
Appreciating For A More Unified Society
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Racial discrimination has become problematic amongst several ethnicities since it can lead to feelings of exclusion. Through common ground and interests, people can learn to embrace diversity and ignore stereotypes so they can create unified communities. For instance, in Paul Fleischman’s novel Seedfolks, Fleischman demonstrates how a group of immigrant neighbors can create a community that lives in harmony, despite their ethnicity. Although the neighbors never really interacted with one another and often discriminated each other, they were able to come together through a community garden. Consequently, once people let go of their initial judgments and become involved with a diverse group of people, they can create a unified community. In society today, people often mistreat others because they make assumptions based on physical attributes, but once they learn to be accepting, people can become part of a diverse, unified community.
In order to have unity and harmony in a community, people need to be able to accept the diverse cultures within their settings. For instance, in a work place employees may feel racial discrimination against their employers or from each other. This may cause a company to not do well and can create tension among within a business. Maria Del Carmen Triana, Maria Garcia, and Kwanghyun Kim did a study on how business relationships can be improved through personal embrace for diversity. Through this study they found that when a workplace is able to establish their morals and support diversity, it shows “respect for all employees and may help improve employee perceptions of neutrality (that the authority figures maintain race-neutral policies), trust in the authorities, and standing (perceptions that their own racial group is respected by the organization)” (Del Carmen 945). Once a business begins to embrace diversity, the employers are able to accept people regardless of their ethnicity. In addition, an employee may see their employers as non-discriminatory and trustworthy. Being part of a community that is accepting of all races can create happy people and an equal world. When someone is able to experience respect, they will feel valued and appreciated. Once people can embrace diversity and accept the various cultures that they are surrounded by, the community that they are a part of can grow closer and more trusting. Experiencing a sense of oneness in a community can be accomplished by not only embracing diversity, but also by ignoring the stereotypes that are associated with each person based on race.
Once a person disregards the stereotypes that are set, they are able to become more accepting. For example, in Seedfolks, the neighbors slowly learn more about each other when they each become involved in their community garden. The neighbors discuss how they made assumptions against each other because of their ethnicities. Though, when they learned more about one another, they grew to care for each other. Accordingly, Amir, an Indian man who immigrated to the United States, discusses how in America, people would avoid contact with one another and keep to themselves. Once he got involved in the garden, he was able to experience how friendly people could be in the states. For illustration, Amir starts to talk with a Polish woman who gardens next to his plot and he realizes that all the judgments he knew were insignificant: “When I heard her words, I realized how useless was all that I’d heard about Poles, how much richness it hid, like the worthless shell around an almond” (Fleischman 77). Although Amir had reservations on Polish immigrants, he realized how false certain generalizations could be. Once he heard about the Polish woman’s history, they were able to work on the garden in harmony even though they do not have the same background. Now that Amir is able to see this woman as just a person instead of her ethnicity, he realizes how unique and special she is and he is able to work with her. Once people become more accepting of others they are able to disregard the stereotypes and recognize how different each and every person is. It may not always be easy for people to work with different races because of stereotypes. Though, when people are able to let their guard down and accept others for who they are, they have a better chance of working well together and becoming more unified.
Accepting people for their true selves and treating all races equally, creates a more inclusive, inviting community. In Seedfolks, a large, intimidating African American boy named Royce starts sleeping in the garden, causing many neighbors to become scared. Though, once people hear he was kicked out of his house and recognize that he was taking care of their garden they begin to trust him and stop judging him. One afternoon he and another man decided to throw a party at the garden and Amir examines, “Those of us who had come to work felt the party’s spirit enter us. The smell of the roasting pig drifted out and called to everyone, gardeners or not. Soon the entire garden was filled” (80). Even though people were afraid of Royce just weeks ago, they now embraced him because of his kindness. The neighborhood became united through the garden. The neighbors were able to be themselves regardless of their background. This gathering exemplifies the happiness and joy that people can experience when they are able to disregard stereotypes and no longer discriminate each other. When a person is being discriminated against, they may experience isolation and hate, but when everyone is treated equally, that person feels accepted and actually part of a community. This idea of community is vital for a person because the people that they are surrounded by can help build their self-esteem, give them motivation, and make them feel accepted. Without a sense of a unified community, a person may feel lost and experience isolation, but once people are able to treat everyone equally, that person will finally feel appreciated.
Throughout the world, people often experience racial discrimination, but once communities becomes more accepting and can embrace the diversity that is among them, people are able to unify and respect one another. Whether it is in a neighborhood or at work, people may experience discrimination. Though, once people are able to accept others regardless of their racial background, by embracing diversity and ignoring the stereotypes that society has set, they are able to create a unified community. By becoming more inviting towards people with different backgrounds and appreciating the individuality within a community, people can unite and respect one another.
Works Cited
Del Carmen Triana, Maria, Garcia, Maria, Kwanghyun, Kim. "Valuing Diversity: A Group-Value Approach to Understanding the Importance of Organizational Efforts to Support Diversity." Journal of Organizational Behavior 30.7 (2009): 941-62. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
Fleischman, Paul. Seedfolks. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Print.
In order to have unity and harmony in a community, people need to be able to accept the diverse cultures within their settings. For instance, in a work place employees may feel racial discrimination against their employers or from each other. This may cause a company to not do well and can create tension among within a business. Maria Del Carmen Triana, Maria Garcia, and Kwanghyun Kim did a study on how business relationships can be improved through personal embrace for diversity. Through this study they found that when a workplace is able to establish their morals and support diversity, it shows “respect for all employees and may help improve employee perceptions of neutrality (that the authority figures maintain race-neutral policies), trust in the authorities, and standing (perceptions that their own racial group is respected by the organization)” (Del Carmen 945). Once a business begins to embrace diversity, the employers are able to accept people regardless of their ethnicity. In addition, an employee may see their employers as non-discriminatory and trustworthy. Being part of a community that is accepting of all races can create happy people and an equal world. When someone is able to experience respect, they will feel valued and appreciated. Once people can embrace diversity and accept the various cultures that they are surrounded by, the community that they are a part of can grow closer and more trusting. Experiencing a sense of oneness in a community can be accomplished by not only embracing diversity, but also by ignoring the stereotypes that are associated with each person based on race.
Once a person disregards the stereotypes that are set, they are able to become more accepting. For example, in Seedfolks, the neighbors slowly learn more about each other when they each become involved in their community garden. The neighbors discuss how they made assumptions against each other because of their ethnicities. Though, when they learned more about one another, they grew to care for each other. Accordingly, Amir, an Indian man who immigrated to the United States, discusses how in America, people would avoid contact with one another and keep to themselves. Once he got involved in the garden, he was able to experience how friendly people could be in the states. For illustration, Amir starts to talk with a Polish woman who gardens next to his plot and he realizes that all the judgments he knew were insignificant: “When I heard her words, I realized how useless was all that I’d heard about Poles, how much richness it hid, like the worthless shell around an almond” (Fleischman 77). Although Amir had reservations on Polish immigrants, he realized how false certain generalizations could be. Once he heard about the Polish woman’s history, they were able to work on the garden in harmony even though they do not have the same background. Now that Amir is able to see this woman as just a person instead of her ethnicity, he realizes how unique and special she is and he is able to work with her. Once people become more accepting of others they are able to disregard the stereotypes and recognize how different each and every person is. It may not always be easy for people to work with different races because of stereotypes. Though, when people are able to let their guard down and accept others for who they are, they have a better chance of working well together and becoming more unified.
Accepting people for their true selves and treating all races equally, creates a more inclusive, inviting community. In Seedfolks, a large, intimidating African American boy named Royce starts sleeping in the garden, causing many neighbors to become scared. Though, once people hear he was kicked out of his house and recognize that he was taking care of their garden they begin to trust him and stop judging him. One afternoon he and another man decided to throw a party at the garden and Amir examines, “Those of us who had come to work felt the party’s spirit enter us. The smell of the roasting pig drifted out and called to everyone, gardeners or not. Soon the entire garden was filled” (80). Even though people were afraid of Royce just weeks ago, they now embraced him because of his kindness. The neighborhood became united through the garden. The neighbors were able to be themselves regardless of their background. This gathering exemplifies the happiness and joy that people can experience when they are able to disregard stereotypes and no longer discriminate each other. When a person is being discriminated against, they may experience isolation and hate, but when everyone is treated equally, that person feels accepted and actually part of a community. This idea of community is vital for a person because the people that they are surrounded by can help build their self-esteem, give them motivation, and make them feel accepted. Without a sense of a unified community, a person may feel lost and experience isolation, but once people are able to treat everyone equally, that person will finally feel appreciated.
Throughout the world, people often experience racial discrimination, but once communities becomes more accepting and can embrace the diversity that is among them, people are able to unify and respect one another. Whether it is in a neighborhood or at work, people may experience discrimination. Though, once people are able to accept others regardless of their racial background, by embracing diversity and ignoring the stereotypes that society has set, they are able to create a unified community. By becoming more inviting towards people with different backgrounds and appreciating the individuality within a community, people can unite and respect one another.
Works Cited
Del Carmen Triana, Maria, Garcia, Maria, Kwanghyun, Kim. "Valuing Diversity: A Group-Value Approach to Understanding the Importance of Organizational Efforts to Support Diversity." Journal of Organizational Behavior 30.7 (2009): 941-62. JSTOR. Web. 19 Oct. 2013.
Fleischman, Paul. Seedfolks. New York: HarperCollins, 1997. Print.