How to Define Diversity?

After going on a field trip to Chicago with my American Studies class, we had discussions in class regarding the topic of diversity. What I noticed during these discussions was how many people used the word "diverse." The dictionary definition of the word is "Showing a great deal of variety," and I have to agree with some of my classmates. In the North suburbs of Chicago, there is generally not very much racial diversity, to be specific. In Wilmette, the population is  predominantly Caucasian. Asians make up 9% of the population, African Americans 1%, and Latinos/ Hispanics about 2%. 

When looking at the demographics of Chicago as a whole, the city is very racially diverse. As of the 2010 Census, the population is about 31% Caucasian, 32% African American, 28% Hispanic, and 5% Asian. When looking at the city as a whole, it is racially diverse. However, the fact is that Chicago is one of the most segregated cities in America. Pilsen, a neighborhood located in the lower West side of Chicago, is 82% Hispanic. Andersonville, located in the North side, is primarily composed of Swedish immigrants. Although the city has a wide variety of ethnicities,  it is segregated into smaller sections, usually based on race.

Going back to the discussion in class, many people stated that where we live in the North Shore is much less diverse than communities in Chicago. But is it really? Yes, the North Shore has less diversity than the city as a whole. But I think that the individual communities in Chicago are just as segregated as Wilmette is. A place like Pilsen just as un-diverse as the North Shore. The difference is the race of the majority.

This brings up my last point. Do we tend to define diversity as simply having people of color in a community (instead of having people of many different ethnicities)? If a town is 100% African American, would people say it is more diverse than Wilmette?

Feel free to comment below, I would love to hear your thoughts!