As a new resident of Bakersfield, it is apparent to me that this city is segregated. The city is separated and divided by social economic status of the rich, middle class, the poor and senior citizens.
In your local newspaper in the real estate and apartment section, there are advertisements for the 55 and older communities, and ” No section 8″ in the majority of the apartment communities.
It is beyond my comprehension as to why anyone would want to be isolated in a senior citizens-only community. We need our senior citizens integrated into all of our communities, for their safety.
We need their wisdom and lessons of life they would share. And in return we can give them the care and compassion that they deserve.
The less fortunate are isolated, because there are “No section 8” signs posted in the rich and middle class communities when applying for housing. “No section 8” is a code for those who receive government subsidies for housing, and to let you know you are not wanted in certain communities.
I went shopping on Rosedale Highway, and a man approached me and asked me if there were any stores in my end of town. Before I got up on my soapbox, I had to stop and think. “This man is crazy, or he is stuck in the ’50s.” The man shocked me. I then responded by asking him, “Where is my end of town, are you trying to tell me that they don’t accept green money on Rosedale Highway?”
I am used to traveling wherever I want to go. This man’s inquisition was a first for me.
Dining out is a love of mine. I am a connoisseur of a high quality of cuisine.
Dining at a restaurant that specializes in prime rib, I ordered an end cut, which means well done. When the waiter brought the prime rib to my table, it looked like he went outside and slaughtered a cow and put it on my plate.
I sensed that I wasn’t welcome in that restaurant. I asked for a carryout container, and I went home and prepared the prime rib to my liking.
This is one example of many. I got the hint. I no longer dine out in Bakersfield. I will travel as far as Santa Monica or Malibu for excellent treatment and good food.
I used to wonder why people would stare at me, in the circle that I traveled.
I now realize that there is an unspoken rule that some of the people in Bakersfield don’t venture out of their comfort zone, and know to stay in their place, because segregation, and the blatant racism is Bakersfield’s dirty little secret.
There is a need for dialogue in Bakersfield, about the dirty little secret of segregation, and racism.
If there is no dialogue, some of the citizens will continue to think that they are entitled to question where you can or cannot travel, and display their blatant unfair treatment.
Give me a break. This is 2006, and some of you are still stuck in the ’50s.