Community Immersion Essay

It is the urban center base for Jeff Davis Parish which feature has 6 cities in the parish (U. S. numerate Bureau, 2010). Jennings is considered a rural atomic number 18a with a population of 10,909 people residing in the urban center. According to the census bureau the urban center of Jennings is populated with Caucasians at 7,736, Afri groundwork Ameri push asides 3, 076, Asian 32 and Hispanics 101 (U. S. Census Bureau, 2010). Jennings has ii sub communities the south side of t protest where most of the benighteds atomic number 18 under the p overty line and some(prenominal) middle class residents. none district is where the whites and a few blacks live, these two sides a separated by a sandbag track. The founding of Jennings was a manifestation of the dynamic spirit in Americans which led them to continu completelyy seek new frontiers and new aras of economic exploitation. The theme of its growth parallels that of many other Louisiana towns, but in two respects it has a claim to distinctiveness its middle western opening and its connection with Louisianas oldest fossil rock oil field. Jennings McComb, for whom the town was named, was a avower of the Southern Pacific Railroad.He built the Jennings depot on a disunite peculiar to southwest Louisiana (Riser, 1948). It is known that he was hot seat of the Louisiana Western Railroad Company and had been associated with Charles Morgan in certain railroad transactions. McComb accumulated a great fortune, non from the railroad transactions. McComb accumulated a great fortune, non from the railroad but from the acquisition of the patent for the cursor tie buckle used in the baling of cotton. In 1901 an Jennings businessmen brought in oil operators to become the Jennings Oil Field.This marked the first production of oil in the state of Louisiana. Oil became an important element in the saving of Jennings, but rice, the basis of the towns scrimping, was lighten cultivated. After 1906 oil prod uction declined and the importance of the industry to Jennings decreased. Rice remained, as it always had been, the prima(p) economic activity of the area (Riser, 1948). The one thing about this friendship is the buildings they still resemble the old design from in the number 1. This lodge on one side of the tracks maybe crumbling, but Jennings is a growing city.Jennings can give the illusion of nonhing is dismissal on and deep gobble up inside of the town is array of discrimination of race, social class, an economic status. II. partnership Structure Community Function Jennings has few clubs for socializing and due to the divide in the population by race. Socialization between the white and blacks are throttle if they do not work together. There are unremarkably around event times in the community two different parades one downtown for the white the other Southside for the blacks. The city is ran by the city manager elected, making all the decisions in the city.During eve nts for the city the decision in regards to can it happen is left to the chief of natural law. The city has two law enforcement role the city police which handles boththing inside the city and the sheriffs department which is for adjoin parish cities. Each area or parts of Jennings buzz off police jurors that are elected for the area. Residents are to contact their police jurors with complaints they are then brought forwards a town meeting that is held each month at city hall. The meetings are open to all residents in the parish however they are not openly advertised.There are many community leaders, or shall I say power families. These are the people who basically can be arrest anything they want in Jennings. These families have been living here from the beginning and own most of all the businesses in Jennings. Jennings with these power families there is a hatch of corruption within the city. According to an interview conducted with a resident of Jennings, it is a visible c orruption. They stated that its in the police department and in the court houses. The court house is turn up in central Jennings and shares a uilding with the parish sheriffs department. The courthouse has two courtrooms and on judge. One Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are court days in Jennings. Because this is the parish base surrounding cities in the parish have to attend court in Jennings. The mayors mogul is located across from the courthouse, basically if he is in office the office residents have the opportunity to speak with him. Election for world office are held every two years, however the judge and chief of police have held the identical positions for the last 4 years.They were reelected with majority of the vote. Observing and interviewing residents across the tracks with a downcast economic status on the government of Jennings. Residents of this community reverence the police and the government of Jennings. Most of the residents dont vote because they believe it does not work. On resident showed me the curfew signs located for two blocks in front of the wholly club in Jennings. Residents reported having to leave the city to socialize (Jennings chance(a) News, 2005). III. Community CharacteristicsJennings is a booming city new train, shopping centers, restaurants, auto lots and new additions to the hospital. This is all downtown Jennings, continue to drive to Southside Jennings and the economy changes. The economy in Jennings is low compared to other cities in Louisiana. Local business owner, own most of the shopping places. The other centers are chain stores and restaurants which bring plateful the bacon employment in city. To obtain a good job some resident must leave the city and drive at to the lowest degree 30 miles to the nearest city for work.There are 3 public disciplines and 2 catholic schools in Jennings there is a technical school which provides training in different fields. Just recently I was aware that Southside had t he solely elementary school residents. According to the Jennings daily news the school was moved uptown Jennings. There are no schools located in the Southside community of Jennings (Jennings Daily News, 2005). Looking for resources in Jennings is wish well looking for a needle in a hay stack. There are limited resources in the area for residents living in poverty.There is no office of community service which provides applications and face to face case managers for additional dwelling house help the nearest office is 45 minutes away. There is a health unit that provides parenting classes other services to needed residents. Caring workforce is the only resource of helping people pay bills if needed. They help with crystalise bills, gas bills, and water bills if qualified. There is no transportation system in the city, residents with no cars must walk to the stores. The community even with the lack of services seems not to harm most of the community.Its for the most part beginning to overcome the racism that has been a factor over the years. However it still a big issue here in Jennings. Jennings have develop over the years an array of issues that need to be addressed like the lack of community services, the sub community of Southside Jennings, lack of activities for children, and jobs. With all this going on the murders of eight young ladies since 2005 has divided and turned the downtown residents against the city police that the city police no longer operate but in the city the Louisiana state police has taken over (Jennings Daily News, 2005).Its apparent when driving through and speaking with residents, the blacks in the community experience oppression from the local government as well as themselves. There is a large amount of discrimination not only with the government but the local police. Residents state even if they are not doing anything the good suffers for the bad. Police patrol Southside and allow no room for socialization. The commons on the So uthside is always empty most children rather stay in the house. The local police abuse their power an residents live in fear every day.Jennings, Louisiana do not have a dispossessed population, most residents that lose their homes move in with relatives. Make some home occupied with multiply families. In this community, its a plus along with all the other problems they do not need a home slight person problem. IV. Summary and Conclusion Jennings, Louisiana a booming city, with hidden racial problems. Jennings with the majority of the population being white runs the local government, making all the decisions for the city. The lack of resources makes it impossible for some residents to access them. Its a city that can be two different cities in one.Although education is cordial most of the black dont attend. Jobs are limited less and there is no public transportation out of city to puzzle jobs. Most residents live under the poverty line for the ones who do not are enjoying this com munity as long as the blacks stay on their side of the tracks. Reading Netting and observing this community there is a lot going on like Social Darwinism due to the blacks believe that income between not only rich and poor, but white and black is natural (Kettner, McMurty, & Netting, 1998). The manifest destiny in which is going on in Jennings today.