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Group Project: High School Interview in South
Phoenix
For
a group project Thomas, Ash, Jackie, and I decided to interview a
group of high school student in South Phoenix for several reasons.
For one we did this for our own personal reasons so that we could
better see for ourselves how things were in the schools. Then there
was obviously the reason of analyzing and researching the views of
the children of South Phoenix. In this group project our goal was
specifically to get a better idea of what exactly South Phoenix is
without all the stereotypes. In this essay my goal is to discuss
what I’ve learned through my own point of views, what I learned, and
then specifically discuss the idea of what the kids in South Phoenix
think of the what ghetto means to them.
My first impressions of walking into the class were nothing
more that what I would experience walking into a class at any
school. The only real difference that I noticed right off hand what
that 19 of the 25 students were African American. We were welcomed
and respected by the teacher and students of the class and we later
learned that it was a government’s class. Everyone in the class had
something to say to our questions we gave but in particular there
were 5 students who voiced their response to us. One of the
questions we asked was what places they feel are dangerous. A young
girl named Stevie quickly named Scottsdale and Chandler as places
she felt was dangerous. Tony, one of the other students said that
one of his friends was a victim of an attempted kidnapping. However
a girl names Sally told us that she felt that South Phoenix was
dangerous and unsafe. The class’s reaction quickly turned, many in
the class disagreed with her opinion and even voiced positive things
going on in South Phoenix.
One of the other questions we asked was what they thought
about raising a family in South Phoenix. One of the male students,
David told us that he would “love to raise his own family in the
newer area of South Phoenix.” Many in the class remained quite after
that question was asked but when David said what he did many shook
their heads in agreement with him. A question of how they (the
students) see their school administration. Tony told us that the
students and administration have a close relationship one in which
is inspiring and caring. Stevie added that the administration helps
them to succeed and the makes the future seems possible.
One of the last questions our group decided to ask was what they
think about how many feel that South Phoenix is the Ghetto and
dangerous. The class got really loud and agitated over the thought
that others were looking in on them and thinking what told them.
Stevie told us that “Ghetto is a frame of mind.” To her she said
ghetto is when someone goes into a market in their pajamas and as
far as people seeing South Phoenix as being dangerous its because
the media is more “hushed” and out of the media’s eyes; David added
that ghettos exists all over Arizona not just South Phoenix. One of
the other more responsive students Dorothy told us that Ghetto is
“in all groups and that it just depends on the person.” Whether a
person sees something ghetto or not matters on that person’s
definition.
Which brings me to my own interest which is the topic of South
Phoenix being called the ghetto and the word itself. Over the last
few weeks my group and I have seen much of South Phoenix and have to
disagree with what society has placed on the residents of South
Phoenix. In fact I would agree with David and the idea of living in
the newer areas of South Phoenix because of the surroundings being
so similar to where I currently live. With a star bucks on every
corner as well as very common stores like Target, Applebee’s, Jack
in a Box, and so on I would feel no different there than where I
live now. As far as South Phoenix being defined as a ghetto I
disagree I have seen worse in other states and to be honest I really
like the way Dorothy and Stevie described how they see what ghetto
being. They said it better than I ever could haves it is truly a
“frame of mind” it depends on the person. To me South Phoenix is not
the ghetto but a place like Southside Los Angles is much more
dangerous and so called “ghetto” in my eyes. But others may see
South Phoenix as being a ghetto or Scottsdale or even places like
Ahwatukee.
In conclusion of doing this assignment I feel that this was
by far the most interesting and learning experience of the whole
class. This project made me understand that not everything is as it
seems and that to prejudge only blinds and hurts those we are
prejudice towards. The students were extremely helpful and full of
information that I know none of us knew or probably would have ever
known. By doing this assignment I feel that I have a more level
headed thought on my interests of defining the word ghetto in my own
terms. Instead of thinking of the word as being so negative as our
society has portrayed instead I see it more as a defining word in
which does not explain but is explained with the word. To me the
word ghetto is universal and can be used with everything, but to
find one true definition simply does not exist. Thank you to the
students, teacher, and administration that permitted us to conduct
this interview.
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Ash Rupp
Jackie Vega
Thomas Haas |
