Discrimination and Racism
Research Project
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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Team Members
Jose Ayala (co-leader)
Fred Barnett
Esther Campos (co-leader)
Tony Fernandez
Will Lopez
Martha Ortega
Thure Nilmeier (co-leader)
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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Discrimination/Racism Research
Project Presentation Outline
Executive Summary
Needs Analysis
Solution Description
Solution Criteria
Solution Choice
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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Executive Summary
Discrimination/Racism Team
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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Project Goals
Collect information and data about discrimination
and racism:
– People’
People’s reaction to discrimination and racism
– Who are affected by discrimination and racism
Develop a solution that will help:
– Decrease discrimination and racism
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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Research Questions
How is discrimination / racism experienced
in Watsonville?
How do those in the community define /
operationally discrimination and racism?
How pervasive is discrimination and racism
in our community?
How has the community dealt with
discrimination and racism?
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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3
Responsibilities
Thure Nilmeier – Co-Leader
– Needs
Jose Ayala – Co-Leader
– Executive Summary
Esther Campos – Co-Leader
– Need
Fred Barnett – Needs
Martha Ortega – Solutions
Tony Fernandez – Solutions
Will Lopez – Solutions
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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Data Collection
Surveyed 174 people
Surveys distributed in Santa Cruz County
– John Muir charter school
– Youth Build construction site
– Shopping centers – Kmart, Target, local stores
– Ramsey Park
– Central Plaza in Watsonville
– Cabrillo College
Aptos Campus
Watsonville Campus
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4
Background of Respondents
Age:
–
–
–
–
39% over 31 years old
6% Between 26 -29 years old
21% between 2121- 25 years old
32% 20 years old and under
Gender:
– 44% women and 56% men
Ethnicity:
–
–
–
–
–
Fall 2005
76% Latino
20% White
1% Asian
1% African American
8% Other
Digital Bridge Academy
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The Need
Discrimination/Racism Research
Team
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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5
Summary of Problems Discovered
1. Discrimination and racism in our community is often
focused on one’s own race (Latino on Latino)
2. A small percentage surveyed have college degrees
(lack of education promotes racism / discrimination)
– Citizens in Watsonville need to understand the importance
of a college education
– Most people surveyed do not understand that there are
resources available for attending college
3. Lack of civic participation (Latino’s are not well
represented in State and National politics)
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First Problem Discovered
1.
Discrimination and racism is focused on one’s own
race (Latino on Latino)
–
In particular, Latino’
Latino’s against Latino’
Latino’s for example:
Newly arrived Mexicans (field workers)
People that speak a little English
People with strong accents
Dress:
–
–
–
–
Fall 2005
campesino hats, boots; baggy clothing, colors and tatoos
People with people (on the streets)
People within themselves (internalized racism)
People in institutional roles towards their own race (e.g.
customer service, admissions and records, help desks,
etc.
Digital Bridge Academy
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Who have you seen engaged in
discrimination/racist behavior?
Latinos 68%
Whites 53%
Other 20%
- African American 8%
- All 11%
Note people picked more than
one answer, and then wrote a
qualitative answer
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80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
15%
10%
5%
0%
Of the
others
Latinos
68%
Whites
53%
Other
20%
African
America
n 8%
All 11%
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Digital Bridge Academy
Has discrimination/racial tension
affected your community?
Of the yes answers
Discrimination toward
own race
Affected in stores
Separates the
community
Illegal immigrants not
seeking help because
of there legal status
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60%
50%
40%
30%
yes 56%
no 44%
20%
10%
0%
Digital Bridge Academy
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Do you think discrimination and racism
is evident in our community?
60%
50%
40%
yes 57%
no 8%
not sure 14%
30%
20%
10%
0%
yes
no
Fall 2005
not
sure
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Digital Bridge Academy
Since 9/11 has
discrimination/racism increased or
decreased?
55% increase
22% decrease
16% other
17% remains the
same
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
increase
55%
decrease
22%
0ther
16%
remains
the same
17%
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What kind of behaviors do you see
that are evidence of discrimination
and racism?
Increase in harassment
- Being followed around in stores
- Being pulled over by the police
No effort of community support
Making fun of gay people
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Who is most affected by the
change in discrimination/racism?
Arabs - 53 %
Latinos - 45 %
Teenagers - 29 %
Women - 22 %
Others - 22 %
– All races - 19%
– Middle Eastern - 3%
Many people felt very strongly about this issue and said
that everyone is effected by this problem
– There were no Arab/Middle Eastern people who filled out our
surveys
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Second Problem Discovered
2.
A small percentage have college degrees
–
Fall 2005
Racism and discrimination may be related to a lack
of education
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Digital Bridge Academy
Education Level
Some College 32%
High School Diploma
22%
Some High School
22%
College Diploma 12%
Primary school 9%
Middle School 2%
Fall 2005
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
Some
College
32%
HighSchoo
l Diploma
22%
Some High
School
22%
Middle
School 2%
10%
5%
0%
Digital Bridge Academy
Primary
School 9%
College
diploma
12%
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Third Problem Discovered
Lack of civic participation (Latino’s are not well
represented in State and National politics)
3.
–
People not voting
–
Political underunder-representation of Latinos statewide & nationwide
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Digital Bridge Academy
U.S. Citizens
72% of respondents
where U.S. citizens
28% non Citizens
80%
70%
60%
U.S.
Citizen
72%
Non
Citizen
28%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
U.S.
Citizen
72%
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Digital Bridge Academy
Non
Citizen
28%
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Did you vote in the last election?
70%
60%
50%
40%
yes 34%
no 66%
30%
20%
10%
0%
yes
Fall 2005
no
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What is the need?
Decrease discrimination/racism in our community by:
Helping citizens become aware of their racism
Providing sensitivity training in all places where
institutions interact with the public
– School admissions and records organizations
– Customer service operations
Having families become aware of the role of
education to overcome internalized racism
– Being fully supportive of their children’
children’s need for higher
education (both spiritually and educationally)
Increasing voter turn out of Latinos in elections
Fall 2005
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What is required to overcome these problems – 1
Programs to overcome internalized racism
– Citizens in Watsonville need to understand the role
of education in overcoming internalized racism
Schools to focus on social and moral issues around
racism with younger students
Community outreach and education about financial
resources for college
Parents who haven’
haven’t gone to college need help
motivating their children about the importance of college
Educational institutions to provide curriculum
Fall 2005
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What is required to overcome these problems – 2
Programs to deal with institutional racism in
Watsonville
– Sensitivity training for workers who interface with the public
– Systematic approach to understanding the public interface
and how to better serve the public
Programs for getting Latino’s to vote
Fall 2005
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How has discrimination and racism
affected our community?
Discrimination and racism is divisive and
discriminatory
– it hurts everyone on both sides of the issue
Discrimination and racism is focused on
ones own race (Latino vs.. Latino)
– People of own race not helping each other
Mexicans look like Arabs
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What are the consequences of
meeting the need?
Decrease of discrimination and racism in the
community through higher awareness
– Safety & respect for people in the community
regardless of family circumstances and background
– Community involvement to stop behaviors of
discrimination and racism
Community involvement of raising of the youth
– College being an important role in family values
More participation in political decisions
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Consequences of Not Meeting the Need
Community division continue to separate us
Gang violence will increase
Spiritual awakening will not begin
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Root cause
Children need to understand internalized racism
– Becoming jaded: watching TV, video games
– Children have too much unsupervised time
Both parents working
No one home when kids get home from school
– Lack of community support and involvement for raising our
children (“
(“It takes a village”
village”)
– Need for positive role models
Community institutions (schools, government,
businesses, recreation, etc.) need to increase their
sensitivity of workers who work with the public
Latino’s need to voteDigital
and
gain political voice
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Bridge Academy
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The Solutions
Discrimination & Racism Team
Fall 2005
Digital Bridge Academy
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What our Community Needs to
Stop Discrimination and Racism
Develop After-School Programs to Support our
Children to Overcome Internalized Racism
Programs to increase voting
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Solution One
Develop After-School Programs to Support our
Children to Overcome Internalized Racism
– Programs to reach children at a young age to build
their selfself-esteem
– Digital Bridge Academy type program to start at jr.
high and high school level
knowing your capacities and your gifts / strengths
to contribute to society
get students to pursue higher education
– Understanding multimulti-cultural issues
not just dance, customs and food
in addition, social movements, personal stories about
experiences with racism, support groups
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Solution Two
Programs to increase voting
– Free class on voting and what is on the ballots
– Increase awareness through media
– Community block parties to unite neighborhoods
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Criteria for Selecting Final Solution
1.
2.
3.
4.
Is curriculum available
Will it work
Recruiting
Resources needed:
À
À
À
Cost to create
Level of Participation
Volunteers
5. Operating cost
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Digital Bridge Academy
Criteria Table
1) Curriculum
2) Will it work
3) Recruiting
4) Cost to create
5) Participation
Fall 2005
After School
Programs
XXX
Voting
Campaign
XXX
XXX
XX
XXX
XX
XX
X
XXX
XX
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Criteria Table
6) Volunteers
7) Operationing
cost
Fall 2005
After School
Programs
XX
Voting
Campaign
XX
XX
Digital Bridge Academy
X
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Chosen Solution
After-School Program to Support Children to
Overcome Internalized Racism
– A workshop focused on children from ages 10-18
knowing your capacities and your gifts /
strengths to contribute to society
get students to pursue higher education
– After school program that meets in the
afternoons and Saturdays
– Understanding multi-cultural issues
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Goals
1. Decrease discrimination & racism
2. Safer community
3. Community involvement in raising children
4. Increase education and understanding in
our community
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Solution Outcomes
1. Less kids doing illegal activities
2. More Kids looking forward to higher
education
3. More parents involved in community
events
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