Assignment 9

Who: Are there certain people or certain businesses that, although they share a lot in common with the others in your opportunity, nevertheless fall outside the boundary? Why?

What: At what point does the need you identified differ from another need? (Is thirst the same as hunger? Or is the desire to appear fashionable the same as the desire to be loved by others?)

Why: Is the underlying cause of the outsiders' need different than people who are inside the boundary?



Person A: Yes, being of the same color and the same background is definitely a common theme in many of us. I grew up in what people would call "the hood", very poor and undervalued neighborhood. The only difference with me is I had an attitude and a mindset that I was going to get my single parent mom out of this environment because my dad was nowhere to do that.

Some individuals who are outside the boundaries can relate because they have friends or peers that they know go through this situation. The gap between the two ideas comes from the different experiences that each societal group has gone through.

Person B: There always are certain people who have the drive and determination to not fall victim to the system. My father grew up in a poor neighborhood where they had to be outside all day and come in when the street lights went off. They were constantly trying to save money and use as little water and electricity as possible. "My parents were successful but they never wanted to leave where they came from." They stayed in the areas where other African American individuals lived to show that they were still no better than the next man or woman. I was fortunate enough to have parents that supported me and forced me to go to college. This was rare and uncommon where I was born and still to this day I see people who I grew up with on the streets and admiring how I was one to get out.

Yes, this is to a degree. You see some people who actually want to help minorities get out of the whole that they were put in by society. Then you see other people who only want to force the hole to become deeper.


Person C: Yes I do. In today’s society, many people see the problems that minorities face but tend to stand back and look instead of taking the proper action in lending a helping hand. I’m not sure if it’s their lack of knowledge on how to go about it or their lack of care, but as years go on, we tend to see the same old cycle repeat itself. Systematic oppression is real and is still present today. In order for us to save lives and increase the productivity of our youth, building facilities that have programs that cater to their needs can help establish a foundation of growth.


I do believe there are other minorities that are victims to the lack of opportunities in their neighborhoods. But, this problem digs deeper than just race but more along the lines of kids not having the same equal opportunity as kids in better neighborhoods. We have too many people living in poverty and unsafe neighborhoods that actually need and will benefit from an after-school program rather than families in suburban areas that use it as a babysitting service.

The boundary separates two different people from two different backgrounds and circumstances. So one’s everyday experiences and obstacles would be totally different from someone who has everything they need to become successful.


Person D: The only minority I could think would be Asians. They essentially make 90 cents of the white men $1, allowing them to have a way higher average household income than blacks and Hispanics. We know from research on structural racism that advantages in one institution such as the jobs allow for an advantage in education, the home market, etc. The average income of Hispanic and black homes are far less than Asian and even lesser than whites. The majority typically fall outside the need of having such a facility because they're not as at risk as blacks and Hispanics for incarceration, crime, and killings.

Much of the insiders want equity and equality to those on the outside to have the same access to recourses. While the outside's needs are continuing to use the resources to grow their own success. Essentially the people of color that have put at an enormous disadvantage due to systemic racism, the one who needs to be kept out of trouble, need the same resources and opportunities as the outsiders, to even be able to be on the same level across all institutions


Person E:

I cannot think of other people that fall outside this boundary because the minority population is well-defined in America.

The underlying cause from inside comes from small community homes and very little positive influences. Whereas outsiders don't see it the same way because they have been equipped with different tools and resources to be successful.

Inside the boundary                                                    Outside the boundary

Minority individuals                                                      The majority of our population

Get people off the streets and out of jail.                       A place to just gather and play for no reason.

We need to keep minorities out of trouble.                    Teenagers are not equipped with the resources.