Hernandez 1 Velia Hernandez Professor Gifford English 114B 24 March 2014 Power Dynamics in a Space Although I was born

in the San Fernando Valley, I have lived most of my life in Arvin. Arvin is a small city near Bakersfield that consists of a population of about 20, 127, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This city is surrounded by countless fields of all varieties of fruits and vegetables. Its source of income primarily derives from the agricultural fields surrounding the city, providing employment for numerous farm workers. Although Arvin can be diverse at times, its population is 92.7% Hispanic or Latino, giving the Hispanic or Latino race the power over all the other races in the city. As I have lived in Arvin for ten years now, it is obvious that the predominant race is the Hispanic/Latino community. Most of the Hispanic community living in Arvin have recently arrived from Mexico or have come from Mexico making the language other than English spoken at home 87.1%. In the high school I attended, there were a few programs to help the students who were not fluent in English, learn the language, as well as clubs and organizations for those particular students. Though some students do not know the English language, they do not feel left out because the students that surround them are predominantly Hispanic. This gives them a sense of security because they whether its in English or in Spanish, they are able to communicate with others. The Hispanic community has complete control of the city because the percentages for the other races in the city are significantly smaller than the percentage for the Hispanic community. People from another race might feel as if they do not belong or they might

Hernandez 2 feel left out of the community because they are not able to communicate with all the other members of the community, especially of the other members do not speak the same language as them. When tourists are passing by Arvin and stop to pump gasoline or stop at the grocery stores, it is obvious they do not live in that city because they either are not Hispanic or they are surprised that the city is not more diverse. Seeing that they are the dominant race, Hispanics in Arvin might feel as if they have control and superior to the other races in the city. Having control over the other races should be a factor of unhappiness for the Hispanic community. A great percentage of the population in Arvin have left the comfort of their homes in Mexico to come to this county in search for a better future. Most of them if not all, have been terrified of the new changes they are about to experience in their new country. Having that sense of security and being able to communicate with the majority of the community without struggling to fit in gives the Hispanic community a sense of relief. The U.S. Census Bureau also breaks down the other races in the city which are White 5.1%, Asian 0.8%, Black or African American 1.0%, and American Indian or Alaska Native 1.2%. This demonstrates that the percentages of the people of other races are much smaller than the percentage for the Hispanic community. These people do stand out from the Hispanic people because there are so few of them in the city, schools, and even local jobs. The elementary, middle and high schools consist of the Hispanic race primarily. The local jobs that most people work in are fast food restaurants, factories, or fields. People work in the areas they are most comfortable in and that they are specialized in.