Tuesday, April 9, 2019
Community Immersion Essay Example for Free
Community Immersion EssayIt is the city base for Jeff Davis Parish which unite has 6 cities in the parish (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010). Jennings is considered a rural welkin with a population of 10,909 people residing in the city. According to the census bureau the city of Jennings is populated with Caucasians at 7,736, African Americans 3, 076, Asian 32 and Hispanics hundred and one (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010). Jennings has two sub communities the south side of town w here most of the b overlooks be under the meagerness line and most middle class resident physicians. Downtown is where the whites and a few blacks live, these two sides a scattered by a railroad track. The founding of Jennings was a manifestation of the dynamic spirit in Americans which direct them to continually seek new frontiers and new areas of economic exploitation. The story of its growth parallels that of many otherwise lah towns, besides in two respects it has a claim to distinctiveness its m iddle western telephone circuit and its connection with Louisianas oldest cover colour field. Jennings McComb, for whom the town was named, was a contractor of the Southern Pacific Railroad.He built the Jennings depot on a divide peculiar to southwest Louisiana (Riser, 1948). It is known that he was president of the Louisiana Western Railroad Company and had been associated with Charles Morgan in certain railroad transactions. McComb accumulated a great fortune, not from the railroad transactions. McComb accumulated a great fortune, not from the railroad but from the achievement of the patent for the arrow tie buckle used in the baling of cotton. In 1901 an Jennings businessmen brought in oil operators to develop the Jennings Oil Field.This marked the first production of oil in the state of Louisiana. Oil became an consequential element in the economy of Jennings, but rice, the basis of the towns economy, was still cultivated. After 1906 oil production declined and the importan ce of the industry to Jennings decreased. Rice remained, as it always had been, the leading economic activity of the area (Riser, 1948). The one thing about this alliance is the buildings they still resemble the old design from in the beginning. This lodge on one side of the tracks maybe crumbling, but Jennings is a growing city.Jennings can give the magic trick of nothing is sack on and deep down inside of the town is array of discrimination of race, social class, an economic status. II. Community Structure Community Function Jennings has few clubs for socializing and due to the divide in the population by race. Socialization between the white and blacks are limited if they do not make believe together. There are normally around so fart times in the community two contrary parades one downtown for the white the other Southside for the blacks. The city is ran by the mayor elected, making all the decisions in the city.During events for the city the decision in regards to can i t happen is left to the chief of police. The city has two law enforcement agency the city police which handles allthing inside the city and the sheriffs department which is for surrounding parish cities. Each area or parts of Jennings harbour police jurors that are elected for the area. Residents are to contact their police jurors with complaints they are then brought before a town meeting that is held each month at city hall. The meetings are open to all residents in the parish however they are not openly advertised.There are many community leaders, or shall I say power families. These are the people who basically can have anything they want in Jennings. These families have been living here from the beginning and own most of all the businesses in Jennings. Jennings with these power families there is a lot of corruption within the city. According to an interview conducted with a resident of Jennings, it is a visible corruption. They stated that its in the police department and in the courtroom houses. The court house is located in central Jennings and shares a uilding with the parish sheriffs department. The courthouse has two courtrooms and on judge. One Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are court days in Jennings. Because this is the parish base surrounding cities in the parish have to find out court in Jennings. The mayors purpose is located across from the courthouse, basically if he is in king the office residents have the opportunity to speak with him. Election for public office are held every two years, however the judge and chief of police have held the same positions for the last 4 years.They were reelected with majority of the vote. Observing and interviewing residents across the tracks with a low economic status on the giving medication of Jennings. Residents of this community headache the police and the government of Jennings. Most of the residents dont vote because they believe it does not work. On resident showed me the curfew signs locat ed for two blocks in front of the only club in Jennings. Residents reported having to go out the city to socialize (Jennings Daily News, 2005). III. Community CharacteristicsJennings is a palmy city new school, shopping centers, restaurants, car dissever and new additions to the hospital. This is all downtown Jennings, continue to drive to Southside Jennings and the economy changes. The economy in Jennings is low compared to other cities in Louisiana. Local business owner, own most of the shopping places. The other centers are chain stores and restaurants which go forth employment in city. To obtain a good job some resident must leave the city and drive at least 30 miles to the nearest city for work.There are 3 public schools and 2 catholic schools in Jennings there is a technical school which provides training in distinguishable fields. Just recently I was informed that Southside had the only elementary school residents. According to the Jennings casual news the school was mov ed uptown Jennings. There are no schools located in the Southside community of Jennings (Jennings Daily News, 2005). Looking for resources in Jennings is equivalent looking for a needle in a hay stack. There are limited resources in the area for residents living in poverty.There is no office of community services which provides applications and face to face case managers for additional household help the nearest office is 45 minutes away. There is a health unit that provides parenting classes other services to needed residents. lovingness Hands is the only resource of helping people pay bills if needed. They help with light bills, gas bills, and pee bills if qualified. There is no transportation system in the city, residents with no cars must walk to the stores. The community even with the lack of services seems not to harm most of the community.Its for the most part beginning to vanquish the racism that has been a factor over the years. However it still a big issue here in Jenn ings. Jennings have develop over the years an array of issues that need to be addressed like the lack of community services, the sub community of Southside Jennings, lack of activities for children, and jobs. With all this going on the murders of eight younker ladies since 2005 has divided and turned the downtown residents against the city police that the city police no longer depart alone in the city the Louisiana state police has taken over (Jennings Daily News, 2005).Its obvious when driving through and speaking with residents, the blacks in the community experience oppression from the local government as well as themselves. There is a large amount of discrimination not only with the government but the local police. Residents state even if they are not doing anything the good suffers for the bad. Police patrol Southside and accommodate no room for socialization. The park on the Southside is always empty most children rather delay in the house. The local police abuse their po wer an residents live in fear every day.Jennings, Louisiana do not have a home slight population, most residents that lose their homes move in with relatives. Make some home occupied with multiply families. In this community, its a plus along with all the other problems they do not need a homeless problem. IV. Summary and Conclusion Jennings, Louisiana a booming city, with hidden racial problems. Jennings with the majority of the population being white runs the local government, making all the decisions for the city. The lack of resources makes it impossible for some residents to access them. Its a city that can be two different cities in one.Although education is accessible most of the black dont attend. Jobs are limited less and there is no public transportation out of city to find jobs. Most residents live under the poverty line for the ones who do not are enjoying this community as long as the blacks stay on their side of the tracks. Reading Netting and observing this community there is a lot going on like Social Darwinism due to the blacks believing that income between not only rich and poor, but white and black is natural (Kettner, McMurty, Netting, 1998). The manifest destiny in which is going on in Jennings today.
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