Interview notes in progress

Questions:

1.)    What does America mean to you?

2.)    Do you think the quality of life is as good today as it was in the past?

3.)    How do you measure the quality of success?

4.)    Do you think greater access to education has resulted in the bettering of people’s life as it was presumed?

5.)    What’s your idea of a successful life?

6.)    Is your community a place where success could be achieved?

7.)    How would you benefit from the elements provided in your community?

TaNerykah Berry

1.)    A false sense of security. They say we’re protected but when you say don’t call 911 for being robbed where do we feel safe? A false sense of hope. These schools aren’t teaching what’s necessary they’re teaching what they think we need to learn to see what we can retain.

2.)    Not at all. Life is taken for granted now; people take lives and give them in a matter of seconds.

3.)    There’s always room for success. I cannot set a level for something which is infinite.

4.)    Somewhat, when kids are in school they’re not on the street all day.

5.)    A life where you’ve reached internal happiness and perfect harmony. Being rich and miserable isn’t successful.

6.)    It depends on whether the people want to succeed.

7.)    I wouldn’t.

 

Roosevelt Frierson

1.)    America means this is the land of unlimited opportunities where if you try hard you could start at the bottom and make something of yourself.

2.)    In some areas yes, and in some others no; because there was a simpler time in this country where things didn’t move as fast as they do today and there seems to be a more cohesive community feeling.

3.)    Success is not always measured in terms of money, and if you could find youre true calling and you’re happy with what you’re doing, then you’re a success.

4.)    Yes, without a doubt.

5.)    If you can find something that you’re passionate about doing, can get paid for doing it and giving back to the community.

6.)    Once upon a time probably more so than now.

7.)    Even though it seems that we have more access to education fewer people are willing to utilize this unlimited access, thus limiting the community feeling of togetherness. Once upon a time where neighbors and people in the community were willing to help each other, now it feels like it’s every man for himself.

                                                                                                                                              

Community Inquiry Project

Proposal :
East Garfield Park
Demographics
- White 3.39%
- African American 90.9%
- Hispanic 4.13%
- Asian 0.40%
- Other 1.17%

Interviewees
- Loreal Evans
- Roosevelt Frierson
- Danyell Thompson
- Thecla Redmond
- TaNerykah Berry
- Patrice Smith

The part of the American Dream I see from my neighborhood is that success is possible. There aren't many big lavish homes but, when people in my community strive, they move on to better neighborhoods that have beautiful homes. I think from my interviews I'll find that in order to get to the top, everyone has to start somewhere, even from the bottom.

Second Generation Immigrants Overtaking U.S Population Success

Children of immigrant parents, especially Asian and Hispanic, are living more comfortable than their parents and many natural born American citizens.

This article relates back to the idea of becoming successful or trying to better the life of your children, which is why immigrants come to America. They see the country as possessing the key values and opportunities needed for them to prosper, which their home country couldn't provide.  They leave whatever they have behind in hopes of starting fresh and making a better living, bringing along family, or sometimes leaving family behind in order to have something started so family can come also. Many immigrants come without any idea of how to make it in the United States, but they’re determined to make a way, not for themselves but mostly for their children.  The children usually are more successful than their parents because they came to American at an age where they could adapt quicker, learning the American way of life easily. These children grow up to own businesses, found companies and make millions. They saw their parents work hard for so little, trying to make life easier for them; this is why many of them choose to chase after a successful life, guaranteeing their own kids wealth.

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