The Disproportionate Overrepresentation of Minority Youth in ...

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A. Well, they’re living in Sioux City, Iowa, which is ninety-five percent
white. It’s the community they’re living in. If they’re not used to that... It’s
a reality of life whether it’s our office or the grocery store or in school.
Q. Do you think a person of color in a position of authority could serve as
a role model to the kids
A. Well, if we need a role model, if the blacks need a role model, one of
our bosses is on the board of supervisors is... black and is very wellspoken.
I wouldn’t say outspoken meaning inappropriately. I think he
speaks very appropriately and very clearly on his views. He is an excellent
role model.
Q. So you think it’s going pretty well here
A. No, I guess I just see us plugging along. I guess when the study first
came out, I probably am saying more than I should, but I did feel
offended. I felt like I was being called prejudiced and I think myself as
well as the rest of the people in the office work very hard to not do that.
Q. It’s an offensive term. If you think it’s being applied to you, it’s very
offensive. It also makes you very defensive.
A. Yes. I think, again, if the study was done in a couple of years, you’d
have totally different results, not necessarily because you’re gonna have
different people, because I think there’s very little turnover, even in our
office. I think it’s just the resources available, the lack of resources
available, the whole system is so flexible and changing.
Well, I think a good example was the Native Americans. They have their
own system and they try to really work with their children. I mean they’ll
try to have any kind of deterrent to not have their child placed in the
system. For instance, the youth program that they have and I think that if
the blacks and the Asians and I know the Asian population in Sioux City
or the Laos population, they’re coming up with those types of resources. I
don’t know where the money’s coming from but I know resources are
being brought up for these families and programs built for them. I know
the blacks have very intelligent people, in that race, if they would come up
with those types of programs and I guess the government won’t give us
money, but if those types of programs could be brought up for their