Jennifer Pirez
Module 1 journal
11/2/2025
The first time I really noticed racism was at a baby shower. My family and I are Cuban,
and we mostly speak Spanish at home; however, we have always been told we don’t “look
Cuban .” since a lot of my family actually has features that could pass as German. The baby
shower was for a Guatemalan family who also did not speak English, and it took place in a
neighborhood that was mostly white.
During the party, I suddenly heard someone screaming outside. When I went to see what
was happening, I found a neighbor yelling at one of the guests because someone had parked their
car too close to their house. The neighbor said that the family should not even be allowed to have
parties because they were not from this country. They also said that since the family moved in,
the neighborhood no longer felt like a “happy” place. At the time, I did not fully understand what
they meant, but looking back, I can see that they were blaming the family simply for existing.
I went outside because I felt like I needed to stand up for the family. They didn’t speak
English and couldn’t defend themselves. I couldn’t just watch them being attacked. What
surprised me the most was how differently the neighbor treated me. As soon as I spoke, they
stopped yelling and even apologized. I realized that their reaction had everything to do with how
I looked and the fact that I spoke English.
Thinking about the situation now, I can see how several factors from Loden’s Wheel were
involved. Race and ethnicity played a role because the neighbor made assumptions about the
Guatemalan family based on who they were. Language was another factor since their inability to
speak English made them more vulnerable. My own appearance and ability to speak English
affected how the neighbor treated me differently. National origin and cultural identity also
influenced the conflict because the family’s customs and background were different from what
the neighbor was used to, which seemed to fuel their anger.
Looking back, I also think about the historical and societal influences behind the
neighbor’s behavior. The neighborhood has a long history of being mostly white, and stereotypes
about immigrants ruining communities are deeply ingrained. That day taught me that
discrimination often comes from long-standing social and cultural biases rather than personal
animosity. It also showed me the importance of standing up for others, even when it feels
uncomfortable. Speaking up made a difference and made me reflect on how much appearance,
language, and identity shape the way people are treated.
