Second Place Essay by Carly Maldonado

Racism is a sensitive word. Americans often avoid mentioning it, even when it is relevant. ... It is a sensitive word because it exposes so much, institutionally and personally. It is a Rorschach word, a linguistic inkblot test. How you define it reveals something important about you, how you see the world, and your place in it." Clarence Page, 1996

Most people think of racism and discrimination as white cultures discriminating against people with dark skin. Obviously, this does occur all too often. However, I believe that racism, discrimination, and prejudice exist in our society taking many different forms. Some of these forms include, but are not limited to, fear of people who are of Middle Eastern descent (due to a lack of understanding regarding September 11th, 2001 and the Islamic faith), feelings of hatred towards people who don't speak English, bans against gay marriage, bans against women and homosexuals being ordained in churches, and ignorance regarding the needs of disabled people. The Miriam-Webster dictionary defines racism as 'a belief that some races are, by nature, superior to others, also, discrimination based on such belief'. I believe that this definition can be expanded to include all types of prejudices. Racism, discrimination, and prejudice stem from people fearing and not understanding many cultures that differ from theirs. It is sustained because people do not take the time, opportunity, or have the motivation to interact with those who are different from them.

As I considered "facing differences and developing understanding and cooperation among people from diverse backgrounds" I realized that my family is a prime example of "bridging differences and building community". I come from a multicultural family. My father is Puerto Rican and my mother is white. There is a broad range of color and diversity within my immediate and extended family. We have African American, Hispanic, and Caucasian relatives. I never thought of my family as being different from others. My parents both grew up in very non-diverse cultures. My mother's neighborhood and school district were almost entirely white, while my father's background was nearly all black and Hispanic. When my parents decided to marry, their families embraced without question or doubt. Part of what defines my family is that we are just a family; we do not think about what color we are or what culture we come from.

My family has experienced many types of reactions to the fact that we are multicultural. Most people don't seem to notice so when someone does take notice it always takes us by surprise. Once, when my cousin was baptized in an all-black church, the minister asked if there were any guests visiting for the first time who would care to stand and be welcomed. The entire congregation turned to stare at my mother, who graciously stood. When my sister and I were younger, a woman in a McDonald's restaurant asked my mother what country she had adopted us from. Shocked, my mother replied that we were not adopted. There have been other situations similar to this, such as when a young employee at an ice cream parlor said, of our family, "You're all together?"

The culture of our ancestors is a huge part of who we are and my family celebrates all of it - but it doesn't make us different from one another. We have many traditions that represent both sides of my family, such as having traditional Puerto Rican foods at Thanksgiving and an advent wreath and European mince meat pie at Christmas. We try to be a true melting pot. My sister and I are studying Spanish - mostly so we can understand what our father says when he's on the telephone with his parents and changes languages so we won't know what he's saying! There is always music in our house, and it varies from Motown, to salsa, to Bruce Springsteen.

My parents have taught me, as their parents taught them, that all people should be respected. We surround ourselves with people who also recognize this need. Our family has a diverse group of friends from all backgrounds, races, religions, and sexual orientations. This is the way it has always been for me and the way it will stay.

This essay was extremely difficult for me to write because I had never thought much about racism and diversity. Having an integrated family and group of friends has always been natural for me. It was also difficult because as Clarence Page inferred, it is a delicate subject. Part of the problem may be that people are apprehensive to even discuss racism, sexism, or religion for fear of insulting someone or being considered prejudiced.

I interpret Page's reference to a Rorschach test to mean that in a Rorschach test, a subject interprets inkblot designs in terms that reveal intellectual and emotional factors. We do the same when we discuss prejudice and reveal our fears and feelings regarding other cultures and ways of life. It is possible that if prejudices were discussed more openly and more often it would not be such a taboo subject.

In consideration of my family's experience, I believe that intercultural and interracial marriage and relationships are one of the most effective ways of bridging gaps and fighting racism. Merging families, modeling and teaching these values of acceptance to children, and making new traditions is a way to bridge differences and build a strong community.

Unfortunately, there are those who believe that this way of life may be considered a form of assimilation. Socially, the process of assimilation takes on a negative tone for some. Some people feel that to embrace the culture of another group is "selling out". This became evident during the most recent mayoral primary election in Rochester. Supporters of candidate Wade Norwood sported shirts that said simply, "Don't Sell Out." Those who opposed the shirts cried racism and argued that the shirts had a negative effect on unity between the city's diverse populations. Rather then denouncing the shirts' message, Mr. Norwood and his campaign elected to infer that the message had some other meaning. Although Mr. Norwood may have felt that this was the best way to address the issue, his decision to not speak out against the divisive message was disappointing. We, as a community, hope and should expect that our leaders will rule by example and courageously speak out against what they know is wrong, regardless of the consequences.

My parents have always taught my siblings and I that not only are we to be tolerant, we are to speak up when we witness acts of intolerance. An alternative solution to the issue of the "Don't Sell Out" tee shirts would have been for Mr. Norwood to use this opportunity to suppress an act of intolerance as well as opening the dialogue necessary to denounce the evils of racism. The way that the community responded to this issue was consistent with Mr. Page's Rorschach test reference. How the campaign committees reacted revealed a lack of understanding of what best unites a diverse community.

As I progress in my life and move away from my family I know that my upbringing will help me to fit into and feel comfortable in many communities. I know that because I was a part of such a diverse and beautiful family it will influence me to try my hardest to make other people understand how vital being respectful of all people is.

Martin Luther King wrote, "Life's piano can only produce the melodies of brotherhood when it is recognized that the black keys are as basic, necessary, and beautiful as the white keys." This quote is significant because it epitomizes the beauty of people being truly appreciative of everyone, no matter what their background or lifestyle may be.

Third Place Essay by Chelsea Lyons

The Rochester area is made up of a diverse group of people. Varying in race, religion, economic status, and more, people are still able to come together to create a strong and productive community. Through common interests and community service, people from different backgrounds can learn to understand and appreciate those whose way of life is dissimilar to their own. By interacting and forming bonds with people who I would have never otherwise spoken to, I have learned to not only accept, but appreciate, people's differences.

In my experience as a student, an athlete, and a member· of my church, shared interests can put even the most dissimilar people on the same level. Playing for a travel basketball team for Monroe County, I was on a team with new people from various areas around Rochester, ranging from Brockport to Lima to Webster. Although I did not know any of my teammates prior to playing with them, our mutual love of basketball acted as a tool to help us avoid any potential issues caused by our diverse backgrounds. Once I got to know everyone, it was silly to think that economic or racial differences would keep us from communicating and cooperating on the court. When I see a girl from my team, I do not worry about the color of her skin or in what neighborhood she lives. I worry about whether she will recognize when I am open for a pass or whether she will be able to make that crucial free throw with ten seconds left. Connecting automatically over a simple hobby or activity, people already overcome the first major obstacle in a relationship, finding a reason to talk and spend time with each other. By the end of the season, I knew all of my teammates' distinct interests, habits, and personalities. Because we had put basketball first, before trying to understand how to address our differences, acceptance and appreciation of each girl's diversity came naturally. Sharing interests allows people to forget differences and instead focus on similarities.

Community is also built and our differences are bridged in all of our shared activities and interests- including school, sports, and religion. Every day at school both in classes and in sports, I interact with people with diverse race, religion, interests, and learning abilities. Providing a safe environment for all students to learn, school causes students to be separated into classes based solely on their interests and abilities. Although all schools are broken up into cliques, students can all generally interact on the same level. No one is turned away from school or church because of his or her background. Although my community in Webster could be more diverse, I have friends and acquaintances that are white, black, Asian, and Hispanic, that are Protestant, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, and atheist, that excel and are challenged in academics, that are skilled dancers, musicians, athletes, artists, and that are handicapped and have specially abilities, that speak native English, Spanish, Chinese, and Ukrainian.

Community service helps both volunteers and people in need. Taking time out of their lives to try to improve the lives of others, volunteers are exposed to different people and customs. These efforts to improve society end up expanding the compassion, understanding, and tolerance of the volunteer, often an unintended and unexpected side effect. Through my church, I volunteered at the Bethany House, a shelter for battered women and women recently released from prison. I arrived at the shelter expecting to make a quick meal and then go home, but I ended up having a learning experience that changed my view of people and life in the city. Sitting down to eat with women who understand suffering and pain, I realized how limited my experiences in life are. I have never been starving; I have never been scared to go home at night. At the Bethany House, I saw women who have had innumerable hardships in life, but I also saw women who are trying their best to make the most out of life. This simple statement, trying one's best to make the most of one's life, is not true for many middle class, suburban Americans. Interacting with people who did not have the same privileges and gifts in life allowed me to better appreciate what I had been given.

Although my experience opened my eyes to the struggles of others, I believe that my visit had an equal impact on the women at the shelter. By reaching out to help these women, I gave these women an opportunity to see that they are not forgotten. Though simple, my youth group's acts of preparing and sharing a meal helps these women to feel connected to and supported by the community. The connection and aid between people from vastly different economic statuses is crucial to the reduction of poverty and the reduction of prejudices.

Community service projects also can bring together volunteers of varied backgrounds supporting a common cause. My soccer team recently participated in a breast cancer walk. Cancer is a non-discriminating disease; it cuts across all racial, religious, economic, and geographic boundaries. Because cancer touches so many people: the victims, the survivors, and their families and friends, it can bridge any differences of people who join together in the fight against cancer. My personal connection is through my grandma who is currently finishing a course of radiation treatments for breast cancer. By coming together with survivors and volunteers, we all feel strengthened and inspired. While on the walk, I saw thousands of people, each with his or her own reason for coming to support the American Cancer Society, but all with the same desire to find a cure for cancer. I saw a group of women covered in pink from head to toe, all obviously survivors. I saw a grieving family carrying signs with a picture of a lost loved one. I saw a young mother with children, trying to secure herself and her family a long and healthy future. In this atmosphere of combined joy and sorrow, bravery intermingled with fear, no other differences mattered. Every person at the walk, understood the devastation that can be caused by cancer, and every person was on the same level.

Whether in school, at practice or at a community service event, I am confronted with diverse people. I believe that the best way to overcome differences is to find common interests and needs within a group of people, allowing people to better understand each other. If new situations are faced with open-mindedness and respect, differences will not be feared or misunderstood. One must first learn to look beyond differences, and then one can learn to appreciate a person for his or her true uniqueness.