Why do college kids hang out with their own ethnicity?

<p>I also think that it has to do with comfort level, as other people have already mentioned in this thread. And just to support my belief that if you're raised in a household as a 1st or 2nd generation American, you will have a different cultural upbringing, there is a girl in my school that hangs out in a White clique although she herself clearly has Asian features. Turns out she is adopted and has White parents. On the other hand, I've noticed other Asian kids in my school hanging out with other Asians more. My point is that the adopted girl was raised with more of an White-American upbringing and thus has more in common culturally with White people, which is why she hangs out with them and which is why people often self-segregate.</p>

<p>no offense to pretty much every single poster in this thread, but when i go somewhere I don't think "oh i'm here to expand my horizons and meet lots of different races and this and that.. i better go meet some asians, or blah blah blah" i think i'm here to meet new friends and i go join whatever club i want to. if there happen to be three asians and this and that there, then great. if it ends up being all white, then great. i'm there because that's what my interests are... same with everyone else.</p>

<p>i do NOT sit there and say man i really want to meet someone who looks different than me, or man i really want to go out and meet more people with blonde hair and blue eyes. I want to meet someone who will play a video game with me, i want to meet someone who wants to play the guitar while i play the drums, etc. i want to meet someone who wants to go to the dresden dolls concert. i want to meet someone who thinks mitch hedgeberg is hilarious. if those people wind up being purple.. then they wind up being purple.</p>

<p>I think that's a fine attitude to have, fendergirl. xD </p>

<p>When I go to college I'm not going to seek out an all African-American group and crash their party to teach them a lesson. I'm going to join clubs about stuff I'm interested, talk to people in my dorms, however I would make friends normally. I'm just not going to expect to, based on my personal background, be snubbed by people I'm getting to know when I go up to them.</p>

<p>I mean, maybe a white person is joining math club and science club and this and that and they only wind up knowing other white people because those clubs at that school just happen to be all white populated (just making an example here). that doesn't mean that person is "racially segregating" themself or whatever, it just happens that those are the people who share their interests. Why should that person go join the 80% african american (again, just making an example) hip hop club if they aren't interested in hip hop? why should they join latin society if they aren't interested in that? I mean, that's just my own personal opinion. </p>

<p>I mean, you guys are making it out to seem like every white person should go join the 80% african american hip hop club so they can be more diverse and meet some people outside of their race.. even if they don't like hip hop. </p>

<p>i don't care what race you are, if you like hip hop, go join hip hop club. But if you don't like it, then you don't like it. go join the math club that you like and make some friends.</p>

<p>I think it's pretty natural...I don't know if the segregation is THAT bad, but sometimes people can find more to relate to when they're with people of their own ethnicity.</p>

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that doesn't mean that person is "racially segregating" themself or whatever, it just happens that those are the people who share their interests. Why should that person go join the 80% african american (again, just making an example) hip hop club if they aren't interested in hip hop? why should they join latin society if they aren't interested in that? I mean, that's just my own personal opinion. </p>

<p>I mean, you guys are making it out to seem like every white person should go join the 80% african american hip hop club so they can be more diverse and meet some people outside of their race.. even if they don't like hip hop.

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<p>NO ONE said anything about having quotas of what "type" friends one needs or going around and trying to find black friends or Asian friends or white friends simply to find friends that are of those races. I think I've clarified that before but obviously you didn't catch that.</p>

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Who are you to assume that every single person born and raised in this country does and should have a similar "American" culture just like every other American?

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<p>Because they were born and raised in America. Because they ARE an American, and just like every other American.</p>

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You've probably come in contact with certain cliques of people who were of a specific ethnicity but acted very "American" in terms of their culture, thus making them hypocrites in your mind.

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<p>I don't get it. Why would I say that's hypocritical? That doesn't make sense. That would prove the idea that despite ethnicity, people born and raised in America would act "American." How would I find that hypocritical?</p>

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If you think anyone raised in this country should be the same or similar to everyone else, you're saying that American culture and how it is disseminated is so powerful, maybe too powerful, that it eliminates other cultures, which in my mind, is a bad thing. Call me idealistic, but I though America was a free enough place where we could incorporate the different elements of our diverse population without having to become homogenous robots.

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<p>I never said that it's a good thing to lose one's ethnic heritage's culture. But living in the United States for forty years and yet not learning English or knowing what a yogurt is ior somehow never developing a friendship with anyone outside your own ethnicity is plain stupid.</p>

<p>I don't agree that it's 'stupid and a bad thing.' Who are we to judge someone else's choices? It sounds like you want everyone to eventually lose their culture and eat hamburgers and steak everyday and drive Ford pickups. Are you actually saying that if you don't adopt all of the 'American' culture, you're detrimental to society? Please clarify.</p>

<p>okay I didn't read the last 8 pages but simple answer is you're more comfortable around certain groups and for minorities it is usually their own ethnicity regardless of the diversity of the area they grew up in.</p>

<p>Its ironic how in high school when this topic rises I hear black people or white people say something like "wow all the asians are in one spot." Well the black person who said this, he hangs out with all black people. The white person hangs out with all white people.</p>

<p>I wouldn't be quick to judge one's ability to interact based on one's friends. I might hang around a certain crowd, but on projects, in the class, at work I function well with anyone regardless of ethnicity or social background. I can work/enjoy myself with anyone. However, at the end of the day when I just want to relax, i prefer my own crowd.</p>

<p>Ok, since being asian seems to be a big deal here:</p>

<p>personally, (i have friends of all stripes), as an asian I find it easier to relate with asians... and I also kind of feel that SOME people of other cultures look down on me, or look at me different, and I don't want to be looked at in that way. </p>

<p>But then again, I have tons of friends who aren't asian that I primarily hang out with, I don't know if other asians feel the same way. And also, a lot of asian students are international students too, and hanging out with other asians might be more comfortable to them because America is a new thing. I certainly don't blame them for it.</p>

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I don't agree that it's 'stupid and a bad thing.' Who are we to judge someone else's choices? It sounds like you want everyone to eventually lose their culture and eat hamburgers and steak everyday and drive Ford pickups. Are you actually saying that if you don't adopt all of the 'American' culture, you're detrimental to society? Please clarify.

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<p>I think what you said is also stupid. American culture is way more than eating hamburgers and driving Ford pickup trucks. Who are you to generalize American culture when its offensive to generalize any other culture? And besides, I never said anything about having to lose your own ethnicity's heritage. But if you are born and raised in America, I don't think its possible to not share some facets of American culture as well. </p>

<p>I also never explicitly said that if you don't adopt all of American culture, you're somehow detrimental to society. I think its odd to live in America for decades and not feel you share a smidgen of American culture, however.</p>

<p>Put it this way, try this scenario: A white American couple move to Beijing because of a job transfer. They live there for forty years. They never make Chinese friends. They never learn Mandarin. They don't even recognize common Chinese foods. They choose to only associate with other white Americans who have come to Beijing to work. Their children are born and raised in Beijing, but in a city populated by millions of Chinese, they also only choose to associate with other white Americans children. For forty years, in Beijing.</p>

<p>By your beliefs, Chinese acquaintances and neighbors (but certainly not friends) of this white American family have zero right to feel offended in the slightest. It doesn't matter that this family has lived on Chinese soil for decades. It doesn't matter that their children were born and raised in China. They don't speak Chinese. They don't have Chinese friends. They don't eat or even recognize Chinese foods. They only keep tabs on American culture, only watching American TV shows, listening to American music, and hanging out with only other white Americans, or if there aren't white Americans, any other Westerners.</p>

<p>No one would find this problematic or odd? Because these Americans are just being comfortable, right, by sticking only to other Americans and American culture, everything else Chinese in China be damned?</p>

<p>I think people, if they heard this scenario, WOULD feel there was something wrong with it. Some might even cry racist. Or just plain ignorant.</p>

<p>But if the people on this thread are to believed, you can be born and raised somewhere, or you can move somewhere and live there for decades, but there's nothing wrong with neglecting to adopt the language or at least some facets of the culture in that place.</p>

<p>Birds of the feather flock together</p>

<p>PEALS-05, you are a very idealist person. Color-blindness is an ideal, not a reality. </p>

<p>The reality of the matter is that no white person has truly experienced real racism in this country (and there a very few countries in the world where they would anyway). For minorities however, namely Blacks, Chicano/Latinos and Asian-Americans, racism is a very widespread and common phenomenon. I'm not talking about the obviously blunt racism that we saw pre-1965... I'm not talking about guys walking around in hoods screaming "n***er" over and over again. </p>

<p>I'm talking about a subtle subconscious racism that exists in the heads of pretty much every white person in this country. Maybe they don't act on it or acknowledge it, but its there. And when it comes out, its obvious to those who experience the **** end of it. </p>

<p>That is why even though a Black-American and White-American could have both grown up in Chicago eating Mac and Cheese and still be wildly different to the point where they might as well be from different countries.</p>

<p>PEALS-05, I understand your idealism, but its just not reality.</p>

<p>"but there's nothing wrong with neglecting to adopt the language or at least some facets of the culture in that place."</p>

<p>Almost every international student at colleges and universities already does that.</p>

<p>People that share similar interests and backgrounds will always cling together; it is human nature and we cannot change it.</p>

<p>I have not read all of this, but ahve a few things to add for consideration. As an American who lived abroad, in a country with people "my race" I still connected with other Americans when they showed up...not as my permanent and only best friends, but it was definitely good for a conversation or two!</p>

<p>Why are there so many Asian kids at the UC schools who are California residents, yet they do not speak English, at least not to each other, and not much in public? One of my kids is a UC science major and is one of very few non-Asians in the major classes.......if every one is a California resident, then were they not there long enough to know English fluently? I am not being sarcastic, I really wonder why it is that so many kids speak their apparently native Asian languages on campus; been there, seen it....it is not friendly, eh?</p>

<p>Another of my kids had a three man dorm room with two girls of another race...my D went to school with kids of various races and she has no known prejudices (we all may have subconscious ones) and she was excited to be buddies with her roommates. She does not know what caused it, but they were polite, yet not interested in being friends and said she could never understand their racial experience! Why? Why couldn't they share it with her, educate her, talk to her? She wanted to know about their lives and wanted to share about her life...no interest whatsoever. She considered moving out mid-year, but decided that was wimping out, so she kept trying to be friends. This year, with a friend she chose (in a mixed race house!) she is much happier with a roommate who wants to try to be friends. She never wanted to be in her old room, it was so uncomfortable, a cold politeness and tremendous disinterest in sharing any personal details. It was sad, really sad.</p>

<p>Our extended family is mixed race, my kids look like different races, they have friends growing up of all races, they have no conscious prejudices, yet many kids really have an active disinterest in getting to know the white kid, the Hispanic kid, the Asian jkid...why? I am not talking about it not being convenient, I am talking about actively choosing not to associate with others.</p>

<p>I totally understand kids who are more comfortable in their home language wanting to be together, but when every one is fluent in English, why can't they mix it up more?</p>

<p>And not necessarily a bad thing.</p>

<p>"I'm talking about a subtle subconscious racism that exists in the heads of pretty much every white person in this country. Maybe they don't act on it or acknowledge it, but its there. And when it comes out, its obvious to those who experience the **** end of it. "</p>

<p>agreed</p>

<p>What a surprise, whites via "subtle subconscious racism" are to blame for minority groups self-segregating in colleges</p>

<p>Gee I never would have guessed</p>

<p>PEALS, this isn't between you and I.. i was making a comment based on this whole thread, however something I will say to you is that you seem to think that every single person in America was brought up on the same environment with the same "American" culture. Have you traveled to all of the areas of America to back that up? I know I haven't, but the areas that I have been to have had VASTLY different cultures.</p>

<p>Example- standing on a street in baltimore with friends for 5 minutes, i was passed by two prostitutes and had two homeless men ask us for money. - one white, one black. </p>

<p>Example- walking around Northern Virginia for hours(Reston area) which seemed to be mostly white and where almost everone seems to have a Benz or a BMW and the parents buy the kids nice new cars when they turn 16.</p>

<p>Example- you can drive through my town in PA and pass six farms and four tractors and gosh knows how many cows within a 5 mile radius. </p>

<p>Example- you can walk through NYC and people of all races are set up on every other street corner banging on their drums made out of containers asking for money</p>

<p>Example- Overtown, in Miami, one of the poorest areas of our country. My friends and I picked up trash off of a deserted lot and the residents (all different races) of the town literally came over to us with their bibles and were praying to god for sending us there to help. Most places when you are picking up trash people just walk by and don't say a word.</p>

<p>All of these people are American. All of them have vastly different cultures. I realize this isn't exactly racial segretation, but I'm just trying to say you can't say that all americans were raised with the same american culture. It goes beyond race. it goes by the area you live in, the people around you, etc.</p>

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What a surprise, whites via "subtle subconscious racism" are to blame for minority groups self-segregating in colleges</p>

<p>Gee I never would have guessed

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<p>Citation, interesting way to phrase it. Notice how you fail to mention that white students are also self-segregating?</p>