A Shaded Past
Since Middlesex County was founded in 1683, it has been home to what could be called a microcosm of New Jersey's general population. Located in the heart of the state, Middlesex County has been in the center of much of New Jersey's history, as well as a crossroads between two of America's most influential cities: New York City and Philadelphia. Although one would think that the population of such a stratigically situated area would welcome a mixed blend of citizens, this was not always the case.
A Present Not So Black-and-White
Too often, school districts are broken up into segregated districts, not by the choice of the Department of Education, but simply because the population of those districts has a predominance of one race over another. While some feel that there are social and economic pressures to encourage those of the same race to live in close-knit communities, many believe that it is simply a bonding experience for minority races. According to a USA Today study, many minority communities are formed by choice; African-Amercians prefer to dwell among other African-Americans, Hispanics with other Hispanics, and so on.
A Grey Future
The future of Middlesex County's racial profile is still uncertain, but if present trends continue, it is likely that the county will remain one of distinctly seperate shades of Black and White. While tolerance and acceptance tend to be the popular attitude of the day, old habits, deep rooted in generational trends, are still hard to break, and the desire to intermingle with other races will probably remain the exception rather than the rule.
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