How Does Race Affect Society

Several important factors have gone into the development of urban America and the spatial organization of cities. Some of these factors include age, gender identity, religious beliefs, race, cultural backgrounds, etc. Believe it or not, these aspects all play a huge role in the development of American cities. The factor that has been the most influential in the development of urban America as a whole, seems to be race. Growing up, we were likely all taught that everyone is different, and that it is okay. At a young age, we learned about slavery and how race has been an issue in America since the early 1600’s. Prior to this class, that was one of the few things I knew about it. I had never questioned the effects of race and how

People of a different race often tend to locate near people of their same race. It is not likely for a black family to move into a predominantly white neighborhood. They would probably look to locate near people who are like them. This may be because they worry about whether or not they will be accepted in white neighborhoods. In William Julius Wilson’s book More Than Just Race, we read: some individuals in the community, most notably young black males, devise alternative ways to gain respect that emphasize manly pride, ranging from wearing brand-name clothing to have the “right look” and talking the right way, to developing a predatory attitude toward neighbors (Wilson 18). This sentence stood out to me because it shows how hard they are trying to fit in and be accepted. The fact that they are buying brand-name clothes in order to feel like they belong in their own neighborhood saddens me. Our cities should not be so uniform. People should feel comfortable to live wherever, do whatever, and be whoever they are and not feel like they are breaking a rule. It is no longer a law that African-Americans must live in different areas than whites, but I think it is still seen as an unspoken