Why does race matter on surveys/statistics?

09/04/2011

0 Comments

 
I had an interesting conversation with a co-worker about surveys that ask for race. She said it shouldn't matter and she usually will put "Other" so she doesn't have to answer. I got where she was going with it; people shouldn't classify your responses based on race. I can't say I agree though. We jokingly talked about how I would not only check the "African-American" box but would put a grinning photo of myself next to it to make sure they know I am. Although I laughed, I'd have absolutely no problems doing it. I am as proud to be black as I am to be a woman as I am to tell my age, my political affiliation and even my religious affiliation (although I do tend to hesitate with religion because I know my response will more than likely turn into an argument, specifically within the African-American community who is heavily religious). For the record, I'm 29, black, female, lean more towards Independent than Democrat (and I've voted for Republican and Green party candidates but mainly for Democrats) and I'm agnostic.

So why is this stuff important? Who do surveys care? Why is it any of their business? And why do I always do surveys in person or via phone whenever anyone asks me to. My main reasons are because of my background: I took several psychology courses in college and I used to work for a radio research firm in high school. I realized how quickly people's opinions sway companies and studies.
Add Comment
 

There goes the neighborhood

07/22/2011

0 Comments

 
For the life of me, I just can't understand why somebody would complain about how bad their own neighborhood is and then move into another neighborhood to screw that one up, too. If you like being in the hood, stay there! (Yeah, somebody's going to be mad I said that, but I bypassed caring last month when my mail was stolen. I'm still mad about that.) It's aggravating to watch a neighborhood being ruined from folks who could care less while others who do care either have to move or watch their block go straight down the drain.

One thing that I've loved the most about living in the neighborhood I've been in for over seven years was the decrease in ridiculous approaches I got. By approaches, I mean guys walking up to you spitting game that doesn't work on anybody but rats. Yeah, that might sound harsh, but it's the truth. Within this past year, there's been a significant change during my train ride (folks are selling candy to make-believe organizations, opening train doors jumping from car to car, putting their legs up on seats, blasting music without using headphones) and now I'm seeing folks hang out by my nearby el stops and just walk around randomly loitering. One perk of my own building was this beautiful set of flowers and freshly mowed grass. There's no porch. There's no stoop. So it's strictly for show and nobody hangs out. I came home one day to see two teenagers flopped down on the ground in front of the door. Extra tacky! Why would you need to hang out by the door when there's a lakefront and a beach a few minutes away?

Although I preferred peaceful, quiet rides on the el station once it passed the downtown area, and I liked walking down the street with folks getting off of work, walking their dogs and working on their lawns, the neighborhood is changing. And to be honest, I don't care for it. One of the things that I really loved about living on the north side is the diversity and the peace. My mother has joked a few times about how she thinks I'll never move. I told her I genuinely liked the area. I like being able to take a walk without worrying about what neighborhood I'm going through. I like being able to jog at night. I like being able to go to a beach not overcrowded with litter and not being concerned about somebody shooting somebody else on the basketball court.
Add Comment
 

Black hair, white hair, fun hair

04/17/2011

2 Comments

 
When I read "With more white parents adopting black children, hair care for them is a needed lesson" last week, I cracked up laughing and remembered my college days. I had four roommates in college, three of which were white.

My freshman year roommate was Margaret, and she is (to this day) one of the funniest people I've ever met. She was the kind of funny that didn't even try, and although she had some quirky ways (like wanting me to live with two kittens and two guinea pigs in a 12 x 12 room with her), she was cool. Outside of always wanting her boyfriend around (who I thought was VERY cool but I just wanted some privacy), the only thing that drove me nuts about her was she loved to brush her hair by the closet. I was always going to class yanking long, blonde hair off my clothes. I never did get her to knock it off, but she was so cool that I didn't care.
2 Comments