As I have mentioned before, I have both the honor and privilege of teaching a community college English 1A course at Hartnell Community College in Salinas, California. However, this class is slightly different than the others I’ve taught, as my current students are high school seniors, dually-enrolled in the course while they are still seniors at Alisal High School. I am a full-time teacher at Alisal High School, and I teach the course from my Alisal High School classroom instead of a Hartnell College classroom. I’ve been an adjunct English professor at Hartnell College for several years, and I have always thoroughly enjoyed working with this demographic. For context, my everyday course load at the high school after my seniors leave is comprised of sophomores, some defiant, some affected by COVID, and some simply disinterested in school. The personalities and energy and intelligence of my English 1A students help me get off to a great start to my days.

We do a significant amount of writing on a variety of topics. Their writing is incredible. I’ve always said that students at Alisal High School are sitting on winning lottery tickets. If they could only write their stories, they would be rich! But this is another more complex topic for a later time. Their stories are good–very good! The following is another essay written by one of my students from my English 1A course. It was written to a prompt about stereotypes and their direct application to East Salinas. I hope you enjoy it.

Stereotypes

Many people who don’t live in Salinas are quick to assume every stereotype in the book and often overlook the sense of community and the unique qualities of its people. Many non-locals hear “East Salinas” and jump to the conclusion that our community is a dangerous place filled with gangs, violence, threatening immigrants, and more. To some extent, yes, East Salinas can be unsafe. However, when you take the time to look beyond Salinas, you will find that places like Los Angeles, Baltimore, San Bernardino, and even Kansas City also share many of the same characteristics. These negative assumptions often come from the media or word of mouth, which tend to focus on the worst parts rather than showing the positive sides of our town. Truthfully, East Salinas is full of hardworking families, deeply rooted culture, and a strong sense of pride that can’t be captured by a stereotype. If people choose to dive deeper, they’ll notice a community defined not by fear or crime, but by hard work, culture, and unity.

East Salinas is frequently subjected to stereotypes portraying it as a dangerous and neglected area. Outsiders often associate the location with gangs, drug-related issues, and criminal activity, overlooking the numerous residents who work diligently to foster safer neighborhoods. While certain areas within East Salinas do encounter significant challenges, these issues do not represent the entirety of the community. The area is home to countless families, small business owners, and students who are dedicated to initiating positive transformations on a daily basis. Local organizations and youth programs play an essential role in this effort. Examples include the Gil Basketball Academy, the YMCA, and homework centers, all of which are easily accessible to members of our community. The programs engage children in activities such as sports, tutoring, and volunteer initiatives, helping to steer them away from potential adversity. These collaborative efforts highlight that East Salinas is not defined by its problems but by the deep concern and unity of its residents, qualities often overshadowed by the stereotype of danger.

In addition to assumptions about safety, outsiders often underestimate the ambition and drive of East Salinas residents. Many may assume that students here are uninterested in education or personal growth, but the reality is very different. Community programs, such as local tutoring centers, youth development activities, and sports programs, provide direction and support that help our students build skills, confidence, and leadership. These programs create opportunities for young people to succeed both academically and personally, demonstrating that the community vigorously invests in its future generations. Rather than being a place of limited potential, East Salinas is full of residents committed to growth, learning, and achievement,
challenging the stereotype that the area lacks ambition or opportunity.

Another common stereotype about East Salinas is the negative perception outsiders have
of the city’s immigrant population. Many people who have never visited assume that immigrants
are a problem rather than recognizing the essential role they play in the community. East Salinas
is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World” because of its enormous production of fresh produce,
and much of this work is done by immigrant field laborers. These residents perform physically
demanding and exhausting jobs that provide food for people across the country; work that many others are not able or willing to do. Despite the low wages and challenging conditions, their labor sustains the local economy and supports the daily lives of many families. While outsiders often focus on the stereotypes, the reality is that these workers express resilience, determination, and dedication, showing that East Salinas is defined not by assumptions or labels, but by the hard work and pride of its residents.

In conclusion, the stereotypes about East Salinas tell only a small part of the story and
fail to capture the true character of the community. Outsiders may see danger, lack of ambition,
or assume that immigrant residents are a problem, but these assumptions overlook the daily
realities of life here. East Salinas is full of hardworking families, motivated students, and
immigrant field laborers who perform crucial, physically demanding work to support their
community. Residents take pride in their culture, their unity, and their dedication to improving
the city, whether through youth programs, education, or simply through the perseverance of their
daily lives. By looking beyond the stereotypes, it becomes clear that East Salinas is defined not
by labels or assumptions, but by resilience, hard work, and the strong sense of community that its