Small Town Diversity by raegan jackson Small town diversity, or lack thereof. Mount Washington is a small town in Kentucky that is predominantly white. There is very little diversity and that can be challenging for minority families living and moving here. Mount Washington is the classic small town that every parent wants to raise their children in. However the lack of diversity has shown to be troubling to some of the more diverse families moving to Mount Washington. Chris Wilson and his wife Jennifer moved to Mount Washington in 2019 with their son Sam. “We talked about moving out here three or four years ago before Sam was even in middle school but I was apprehensive because I wanted him to be in a diverse school,” said Chris Wilson. Since they have moved here Sam has joined the basketball team at Bullitt East and both him and his parents have made many friends through the sports program. While there may not be a ton of diversity, Mount Washington has proven to be a very accepting place that tries to make other cultures feel welcomed and safe.Since they have moved here Sam has joined the basketball team at Bullitt East and both him and his parents have made many friends through the sports program. “Now here, Sam is on the varsity basketball team that’s all white kids. Sam’s the only biracial kid on the team and they are offering him rides. Will Blanford being a senior white kid and captain has taken him under his wing, the parents we’ve sat with are fabulous, they’ve embraced us with open arms.” said Jennifer Wilson.
Chris and Jennifer Wilson with their son Sam.
Going from a diverse school to a predominantly white school can be very difficult. Being new is hard enough but being new and different makes things 10 times harder. “It was definitely a little weird going from a school with lots of diversity to very little. However, I made friends pretty easily and never saw it as a huge obstacle.” said Rachel Johnson. Even though there have been struggles along the way these families have found a home in Mount Washington. They are now a part of the community and the Mount Washington family. “We have just fell into a really good spot and it’s like our goal was reached. We got him out here and it’s been a great fit for him.” said Jennifer Wilson. Finding the right place to raise your children is one of the most important things to a parent. For the Wilsons, Johnsons, and many others, Mount Washington is the perfect place to raise their children.
The lack of diversity is definitely a concern for parents moving their minority children to Mount Washington. However one family has found comfort in being able to show their children diversity in other ways. John and his wife Mary moved to Mount Washington in 2014 with their daughter Rachel and son Nate. They adopted Rachel from China when she was just 16 months old and they adopted Nate from Vietnam when he was 16 months old as well. “We were involved in FCA and our travel group from China. These both exposed them to the diversity that was lacking in Mt. Washington.” said John Johnson.
Rachel Johnson with her mom Mary, dad John, and younger brother Nate.
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