Pollack (2005) informs that major organizations such as People Reaching Out for Unity and Diversity were formed in the 1990s to ensure that the spirit of diversity and peaceful living is restored in the city. They have continued with their advocacy extending their campaigns to institutions such as universities. It is worth understanding that the killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African-American teenager, by a white police officer based in Ferguson raised tensions in the city as everyone questioned the murder. University students were not left behind in the demonstrations that rocked the city. Everyone in Ferguson is fighting for racial balance and unity among members from all races. I chose this topic because I am personally interested in understanding the reaction of students from different races on this matter. The rationale of choosing this diversity topic is that it presents views from youths in the city, especially those in colleges and university. This helps in the understanding of the direction the city is taking in terms of appreciating and encouraging diversity.

Diversity in Ferguson City (St. Louis, MO)

Diversity remains a key concern in Ferguson City. Organizations formed to bring about diversity have tried their best, but integration remains a difficult issue for them to be achieved at the moment. Accordingly, Muniz (2014) indicates that the city’s population has massively shifted from a white-dominated city to an African-American-dominated city. Individuals such as Rance Thomas came up with North County Churches Uniting for Racial Harmony and Justice to ensure that the diversity is achieved in the city. The road to racial diversity has been long and the future appears bleak, as racial tensions continue to exist at the wake of each day.

The ratio of African-Americans to whites.

Ferguson was initially dominated by whites. However, African-Americans have overtaken them and boasted of the highest population in the city. Jack (2011) informs that the total population of the city is around 21,000 with African-Americans making up 67% of the total amount against 29% of whites. These statistics are a clear indication of the view that African-Americans are the dominant race in the city. Nevertheless, the two racial groups have found it difficult to come together and work together toward the promotion of unity and justice among themselves. Every group tends to fight for its own rights within the city.

Racial Differences in Ferguson City

The happenings in the city justify high levels of racial indifferences between African-Americans and whites. Most whites tend to live in the best parts of the city while African-Americans who form the largest population still live in shanties. The gap between the rich and the poor is also high, as most whites hold most of the wealth within the city. According to Dobkins (2012), most African-Americans have been frustrated by the conditions they have been forced to live in hence leading to regular demonstrations, as they demand for their rights in different sectors such as employment and university admissions. The police department that is mostly made up of whites has been blamed for encouraging these differences by profiling most African-Americans over the years.

University admission.

University admissions into Ferguson universities are always based on merit. This means that people who score the highest grades in university entry examinations are always the first ones to be considered for the vacancies available in the university. Israel (2008) informs that this tradition has been firmly upheld by major institutions such as the St. Louis Community College-Florissant Valley. Nevertheless, institutions of higher learning have tried to promote diversity through affirmative action where African-Americans are admitted as part of the program. This is usually geared toward eliminating the racial dominance of whites in all sectors of the city. Universities such as the St. Louis Community College continue to play an important role of ensuring that success is achieved in terms of bringing the different races together. Apart from university admissions, there have been events to promote racial integration among different groups.

Supporting Research

Findings of Lewis (2014), indicate that students reacted violently to the death of Michael Brown. Most of them believed that these events could have been prevented because Brown was unarmed and did not deserve to be shot. Cox, Devine, Plant and Schwartz (2014) hold the view that the demonstrations on the streets of Ferguson are a clear indication that most students did not like the act, and needed it to be addressed urgently for their safety. They engaged in demonstrations and put the police to task, as they tried to contain them during the day and at night. The largest part of the demonstrating students was made up of the African-American population because Brown was one of their own. In Dowden-White’s (2011) opinion, this is a clear sign of the racial distance existing between whites and African-Americans in the city. They are yet to achieve the level of integration that could lead to the fight for common goals among them. Lewis (2014) reiterates that the culture of racial intolerance also seems to have been spread to students, who will only care about members from their own race. Dowden-White (2011) also revealed that institutions of higher learning need to take the bold step of integrating students through frequent cultural events and make them aware of the need to appreciate other people and their respective backgrounds. The chosen diversity topic, understanding students’ reaction to Ferguson unrest, connects directly to my career as a human development professional. I believe that I have the capacity to step in as a human development professional to help those students develop into individuals who are able to tolerate each other in the society in the best manner possible that restores racial unity in the city.

African-American vs. White Students’ Reaction

African-American students had a more violent reaction to the killing of their colleague in Ferguson. They did not like the case because it seems to have been going on for a while. Their protests led to the shooting of another person who was believed to be pointing a gun at the police. The protests did not stop and went on all day and night. Lewis (2014) agrees that the most significant thing to understand is that African-American students were on the forefront in terms of reacting to the overall event. This also led to the suspension of classes in most learning institutions within the city, as students looked forward to airing their views and ensuring that the problem is completely addressed. Nevertheless, few white students participated in the violent protests that took place throughout the city.

Encouraging racial integration.

The best way to encourage racial integration into Ferguson learning institutions is to start from the larger community. Pollack (2005) reveals that integration could be achieved improving the standards of living for all the populations in the city. African-Americans should not be left to languish in poverty within the city because this will increase the tension, as they fight for their rights. It is important for the local government to ensure that it is creating equal opportunities for individuals from both races to improve harmony and justice among them. Muniz (2014) insists that another vital step that could boost the level of racial integration in Ferguson is the encouragement of community activities. These could be in the form of cultural activities that give every member the opportunity to experience and appreciate the practices of the different race. This will lead to coexistence and understanding. The same should be encouraged among students to ensure they grow into responsible individuals.

The Administration of Justice in Ferguson

The administration of justice in Ferguson also brings out the clear picture of racial imbalance and explains the violent reactions among African-American students to the Ferguson murder. Accordingly, the administration of justice is partial. For instance, Nowacki (2008) asserts that the St. Louis County Police Department patrols about 25% of the areas occupied by African-Americans compared to the 10% areas occupied by whites. There is a high level of profiling that has led to the loss of lives among African-Americans. Dowden-White (2011) holds the view that this is prevalent among youths because of the belief that they have the highest capacity of being drug barons within the city. Again, the continuous targeting of African-Americans by the police department is a clear reflection of the view that they are yet to gain their rightful position in the city. Law enforcement is supposed to be as fair as possible to boost peaceful coexistence and racial integration within the city.

The recruitment of law enforcers.

Jack (2011) opines that African-Americans make up about 67% of the overall population in Ferguson compared to 29% of whites in the city. However, many individuals serving in the police are usually whites. This encouraged hatred between whites and African-Americans because of the low representation that African-Americans get in the administration of justice. The lack of representation in the police department makes them less connected to the overall happenings of the city.

Personal Reflections of Field Experiences

I am extremely proud to have participated directly in the field experiences, interview and immersion experience, because they enabled me learn a lot as a leader. The interview gave me the opportunity to understand the perception of individuals about different events that could occur within a racial group. For instance, I was able to interview a woman and get her perception on the matter. This gave me a chance to understand other people as a leader. More so, I was happy to attend the cultural immersion experience where I witnessed the need for diversity and racial acceptance. As a leader, I will be in a perfect position to apply this to an organizational situation especially where I will be trying to balance diversity. Both of these fields experiences have been of a massive boost to me as a leader because they have enlightened me, and have enabled me focus on how to work with different people effectively.

The most significant similarity between the research findings and the information, I gathered from the field research, is that African-Americans form the largest part of Ferguson’s population. Their number increased rapidly hence putting them at the highest level compared to whites. Another similarity is that Ferguson is always faced with massive racial disparities, as whites tend to have preferential treatment in different sectors such as school enrolment and the job market. On the other hand, the research findings differed from the information gathered from the field research in terms of the mode of treatment of African-American students in schools. The research tended to point to the view that African-Americans do not get adequate recognition in Ferguson while the field research indicated that they always have an opportunity to be appreciated in their institutions through the cultural promotion programs.