How The Components Of Chicago's Hard To Be Organic Community

Human survival is based on everyone’s four basic needs; air, water, food, and shelter. Unfortunately, the need for food has been overlooked and what most people are not aware of is that there are millions of children and adults that do not receive the food that they need every day. The non-profit organization “Feeding America” has helped eliminate hunger in the United States since 1979. First being called “America’s Second Hand Harvest”, they soon became known as “The Nation’s Food Bank” before finally adopting their current name, “Feeding America”, in 2008. Feeding America helps prevent the nationwide problem of hunger with the assistance of people donating and companies who give grants and to feed more than forty-six million hungry citizens

The richness of El Paso, Texas relies on the vast diversity observed in each one of its citizens, which has opened the way for El Paso to develop as a multicultural city.

In the economically unpredictable country, the United States of America, there is obvious signs of corporate exploitation of the middle and lower classes in terms of economic status. However, the last thing you would think of are these huge food corporations scheming a class-based geographical empire of fast food chains with a scarcity of supermarkets. Food deserts are urban and rural areas, mainly of the lower class, that have virtually no access to healthy food options. Leading to more obesity and other dietary related diseases, such as diabetes. There are about 23 million people that live in food deserts, and out of that 23 million, “[more] than half of those people (13.5 million) are low- income” (Agricultural Marketing). A barren wasteland consisting of no healthy food options, or even a market where you can at least have a choice on what you eat, seems to be impossible to come by.

Although Los Angeles Chinatown was a popular first-stop in the states, it did not remain economically viable for low-income immigrants to continue living there because of increasing rent and real estate. In particular, gentrification has an effect on new Chinese residents who settle in Chinatown that tend to be “poorer, less educated, less acculturated” (Lin 2008). Along with the influx of low-income residents in search of their American dream, there was a portion of wealthy entrepreneurs and investors who rightfully saw potential in Chinatowns within the United States (Liu and Lin 2009). Although Oakland was able to deflect and divert investment over to San Francisco, Los Angeles became the prime area for investment because of its popularity at the time. As a result, many low-income immigrant families that were originally situated in Los Angeles Chinatown eventually moved into the San Gabriel Valley (Liu and Lin 2009). Between its close proximity to Los Angeles Chinatown, the preservation of Chinese language and culture, and the affordable rents, the San Gabriel Valley became an economically and culturally viable option for lower-income immigrants in Los Angeles. As a result, Los Angeles Chinatown had numerous vacancies in housing and business. As Chinese residents left Chinatown, struggling business owners decided to open restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley instead (Gold 2015). Due to the numerous vacancies, newer American, fusion, and pan-Asian restaurants situated themselves in Chinatown (Trinh 2017). Although some could argue that the newer restaurants are not competing against older Chinese institutions, the presence of non-Chinese restaurants does have an impact on the cultural essence of Chinatown. Consequently, it makes me difficult for Los Angeles Chinatown to sustain traditional Chinese culture amidst the variety of cuisines. While

Like the classic saying has it “You can take the kid out of Brooklyn but you can’t take the Brooklyn out of the kid.” Same goes for Chicago this is my story. I was born in the windy city, on the south side. I wasn’t there for that long I was there till my fifth birthday, and then I moved to Boston, Ma with my mother, sister and I. However, I believe that south side raised me because every winter and summer vacation I would visit my grandmother or as she liked to be called “Mo-Mo” While visiting her I’ve seen some pretty harsh situations. Let’s just say living on south side is pretty tough it really like a jungle; I see the way family and old family friends live. South side Chicago has taught me to never trust clowns, watch my back, don’t stay out to late, and NEVER trust anyone other than your “gang”/ family and to not smile to much it’s a sign of weakness.

Over the last century, farming has changed exponentially, transforming food production. During the late 1800s, the industrial revolution revitalizes agriculture by bolstering crop and livestock productivity, spurring the second agricultural revolution. This revolution marks the creation of a commercial market for food. (Knox, 334) The third agricultural revolution, occurring after World War II, introduces mechanization, chemical farming, and manufacturing processing that still exists today; therefore, marking the transition from the family owned and operated farms to commercial farms. “Back around the turn of the last century, the average farmer could feed six or eight people. Now the average American farmer can feed 126 people” (Kenner). The standardization of fast food reconstructed the food preparation system. McDonald’s Speedee Service System introduced manufacturing production lines into a restaurant, transforming the farming into a food industry. (Knox, 341) Even though most food sold in supermarkets and restaurants is cultivated on corporate lands, surprisingly, farming is still believed to be a family business with locals living in small farmhouses.

Food deserts are becoming a growing issue not unique to the United States. In 2010, it was estimated that 23.5 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, lived in an urban or rural food desert (Let’s Move, 2015). A food desert can be defined as a geographical area where communities lack access to healthy, inexpensive food options. The limited access to an affordable healthy diet presents a major challenge to residents living in food deserts. Instead of people’s main source of food being from a supermarket, communities will rely on eating at restaurants, fast food chains and convenience stores as their main sources of nutrition. The phenomenon is more prevalent in low-income, racial and ethnic minority neighborhoods, as it were reported

Food deserts are an area with limited access to healthy affordable food locations. Often times areas that consist of lower socio-economic status have more fast food chain restaurants, than supermarkets that carry wholesome nutritious food.5 Also, many people start to create habits when it comes to their nutrition. People can get so used to eating unhealthy food that many times when presented with options for healthier choices, such as, fruit stands and corner markets that sell vegetables and fruits many people can opt out. They simply are not used to having these options available to them. There have been cases where supermarkets have been implemented into food deserts and one thing research has found is that people will buy the same exact

Throughout the 19th century, the American geography noticed a considerable change. As cities grew taller and taller, finally meeting the sky with metal and glass, more and more people moved to live in the intensifying hustle and bustle. This is especially true for Chicago, a sprawling metropolis nestled in Illinois next to the Great Lakes. During the late 19th century, the city became one of the largest in America. New faces constantly appeared in the always busy Chicago train stations, desperate yet hopeful for a new life in the big city. However, not all was well in Chicago during the midst of the World’s Columbian Exposition, otherwise known as The Chicago’s World’s Fair. Chicago was cast in a dark light in American society, especially

The city of New York has been a place of immigration since the beginning and is the most diverse area in the country. Looking closer we find that Queens is the most diverse borough of the city (Starr, 2015), with Astoria as the most diverse neighborhood. There are multiple immigrants from multiple origins and many of those immigrants in Queens originate from Asia, more specifically China. The highest concentration of Chinese immigrants is in Main Street, Flushing, often called the other Chinatown of New York.

In the first chapter, Mayorga-Gallo examines multicultural neighborhoods and their experiences, “This book unpacks the meanings white and non-white residents attach to this multiethnic space and their experiences within it” (Mayorga-Gallo 4). She unpacks interracial relationships in multiethnic neighborhoods by studying an annual picnic in a typical multiethnic neighborhood in North Carolina called Creekridge Park. She guides us (the readers) through the experiences of Black, White, and Latino/a residents. She also includes racial, gender, and age demographic charts to inform the reader. She included demographics to make a point that although neighborhoods are integrated, it does not necessarily mean that that will increase positive interracial relations. Although this is an “integrated” neighborhood, a Black neighborhood resident, Roberta, went to the

Similarly to Texas, California was annexed by the U.S. after the Mexican War in 1846. While U.S. took the opportunity to discovered California, many immigrants see it as a golden land and a place to live their successful life. California is known for diversity from newcomer immigrants compare from food to cultures. Who is your favourite food? Mine is Pho and Taco. I enjoyed eating all diverse food in California. Wherever you go you will always find a eating place that sell different type of food around the world.

“Are you really putting in what’s right for your body?” “Ingesting pesticides can inhibit brain development.” “Only organic foods can keep you safe.” Catch cries such as these seem to plague the media. However, consumers do not need to constantly worry about eating a strictly organic diet. These phrases use the fear tactic when, in fact, these claims aren’t always true. Eating conventional, or non-organic foods, is not as bad as you think. And organic foods are not as praiseworthy as they seem to be. The organic label should not be a symbol for edible. America should stop ridiculing conventional foods, and instead, consume them because they are safe to eat, better for a growing population, and are less expensive than their organic counterparts.

A handshake, a tight hug, a gesture like bowing down, a kiss on the cheek, or something quite unique like sticking one’s tongue out at someone are all results of multicultural cities. According to Hutchison (2017), at the beginning of the third millennium, more than half of the global population lives in cities and economic integration as well as globalization fueled what is called cultural diversity and originated what is known now as multicultural cities. Sociology dictionary describes the multi-cultural society/city as “a society characterized by cultural pluralism”; one society rejoices cultural mixtures such as linguistic, religious, ethnical diversities (Encyclopedia.com, 2017). The wealth of multicultural cities poses challenges to the multicultural cities and their citizens. But, living in a multicultural city is by itself a very beneficial exercise not only on a personal level but also in terms of cultural exchange, economic exchange and generating new ideas.

In recent decades, urban cities turned to become an attractive place for people from Different cultures to live in. This movement from different cultures to urban areas caused a significant change and development to urban cities and made it an extrovert area for different backgrounds. Cross (1989) defined culture as “ an integrated pattern of Human behavior that includes thoughts, communications, actions, customs, beliefs, values, and institutions of a racial, ethnic, religious, or social group”(p.7). Nowadays, we are living and socializing with different cultures and backgrounds in urban areas, which lead to a significant change in our life. I believe that living in a cultural diversity city make us more extrovert and creative