.Hawaii is the number one state for minorities- why not California?

In December 2013, a Gallup poll was made in Aloha State and showed that Hawaii was voted as the number one state for minorities and followed by Texas and Alaska but why not California? After all, California is diverse and people seem to get along.

 

              “I think the environment in Hawaii has a lot to do with why it’s so welcoming to minorities,” said Omar El Sahlah, a nursing student at De Anza College. “The lifestyle is different too, here in California everyone keeps to themselves and don’t acknowledge one another.”

 

              Surprisingly enough, the people of Hawaii have a big influence on why they were voted number one. According to Historical racial and Ethnic Demographics, the reason why Hawaii was voted number one was because whites aren’t the majority in that state.

 

             “I think California is wonderful! For the most part people do get along with others and you don’t see many people being discriminated,” said Angela Cross, a Bio Journalism student at De Anza College. “It really comes down to the area you grew up in and who you grew up with as well.”

 

             So what can California do to boost their welcoming to minorities? According to Cavalier Daily, “States that have diverse communities help people break that ‘close mindedness’ that most people have.”

 

            “People just have to understand that all ethnic groups can make it too. If someone from a minority group is hard working, it’ll show,” said Arnoldo Sianez, a Computer Engineering student at De Anza College.

 

            “White people have the tendency to think that they’re the ones on top of the pyramid,” said Sianez.

 

            A handful of students took the news as Hawaii being number one as a bit of a surprise and believed that California should have been voted number one. “California does a great job with its diverse schools, communities and even families,” said Ana Abreu, an Interior Design Student as De Anza College.

 

          “Well actually I can kind of see why Hawaii was voted number one… it’s a bit sad knowing that minority groups may feel stepped on by other ethnic groups just because,” said Mark Asmar, a De Anza Student. “People may feel like this because they may feel as if they can’t keep up with our society too; our American society has a lot to do with it.”

 

         According to the American Psychological Association, they stated that socioeconomic status has a lot to do with minorities being discriminated because minorities tend to keep within their people and others may look down upon them for their living lifestyles.

 

       “I think that if everything was cheaper and everyone gets the mentality that one ethnic group is better than another then California can be voted number one or be one of the highest votes for welcoming minorities,” said Asmar.

       

      According to the Gallup poll, it stated that California had average ratings for good locale for minorities.