Northern California, specifically the Bay Area, is one of the most diverse places in this world. In fact, so diverse that out of the top 10 cities with the most with the Most Ethno-Racial and Linguistic Diversity, 5 of the 10 are situated in Northern California. This along with a plethora of other statistics gives many Bay Area natives a sense of superiority to the rest of the U.S. in regards to race relations.
Once Trump won his presidency, I saw time and time again this talk of a “bubble”. Every talk about the presidential election ended with something along the lines of:
“It’s so crazy how he got elected. I mean it’s like we live in this diverse and accepting bubble; we don’t even know how the rest of the U.S. is.”
Ostensibly, many Bay Area residents that voice this thought live with the belief that everything is fine.
One of the biggest issues with statements like those is the inaccuracy. Statements like such, make the Bay Area seem like a utopian area where racism, discrimination, and prejudice cease to exist. Though it may be much better off than other parts of the US, that is simply not true.
Just last week, my grandmother was harassed while crossing the street. Being Muslim, she was wearing a headscarf and being elderly, it was taking her a while to get across. This set off two racists who began shouting profanity at her and phrases like “Trump will take care of you!”
My grandmother like others had a bit too much hope in the Bay Area bubble and was shocked by this incident. But this incident itself, reveals that the Bay Area is no exception to the racism and hatred this world presents. America is plagued with heightening race tensions and it can be seen all across America, from Ferguson to the Bay Area.
Another major issue in the Bay Area bubble statement is the hidden ignorance. If one truly cares about the race relations in America, they must be perceptive, aware, and knowledgeable about all parts of America. One can never surround themselves with people of just one way of thinking. Because if all you see if people with the same beliefs as you, you will think that the whole world is fine and that is not the case at all.
I am a proud Bay Area native and would not want to live any other place in the world; however, despite my pride and love for this liberal, diverse, place I acknowledge that it is not perfect. And that’s okay because addressing the problems is one step closer to solving them.
