Culture is a way of life that reflects who one really is. One’s culture is determined by learned behaviors. These behaviors are passed down from one generation to another. As a result, culture is constantly in a state of change. Learned behaviors depend upon what is taught, and as advancements are made throughout each society, a culture has the tendency to change as the environment changes. This does not change what defines a particular culture; it just gives more meaning and is adaptive in nature. A culture is often based on the strength of the community, the language that is used, and the behaviors of the people. I belong to a culture that has each of these characteristics with a different style. We believe in the strength of our community and we are proud of the culture we have developed into. I belong to a misunderstood and underprivileged culture that has characteristics that only the people of the community can understand and appreciate. Many, if not most, people would see it as a terrible place to live, work, or raise a family. To us it is home.
When a person walks the streets or drives through the community, they will see the people who live in our downtown Over-the-Rhine Community. We are a proud community of groups and individuals. On any given day, one will see our community congregate outside our homes as families, friends, and neighbors.
Music brings the community together. If it’s a sunny afternoon and a family reunion is going on, or if it’s just a random sprout up, there will always be music, and the best music is hand crafted. Our people can make a tune from any substance. We have even been known to play an entire symphony on a fire hydrant.
The Over-the-Rhine Community is a community with life. This life is shown through many different faces. It is expressed through a person performing service or a person committing a crime. Even with the bad, we are still a community with hope, and this is why we are misunderstood.
Most who drive through the community only see what is on the surface. For those of us living here, we look beyond the surface and see the good in our neighbors. Goodness can be found in many of our neighbors’ hearts.
Even in the homeless who find their way to our community, goodness can be found. As much as some of us want to improve our lives, it is not always easy. The simplest line on a job application can bring that dream to a halt if we have no home address to write down. One neighbor once said, “I need a place to call home before I can call a place my job.”
People on the outside of the community sometimes need to understand that as much as we want help, we still want to keep our own identity intact. We have our pride, and we want to stand tall on our own.
Our friend, Buddy Gray, has given us power. He taught us to listen to our neighbors. He taught us never to give up. He referred to his glasses as colorblind glasses. He taught us to be colorblind. This allows us to see everyone as our brother, neighbor, and friend.
So, as each community is different, it doesn’t mean one is better than another. In every community, there is good and bad. We may look different, may not live in the same type of house, may not drive the same kind of car, but it doesn’t mean we are less happy or less proud than any other community. We are still your neighbors.